A big increase for inspection and license fees could be on the way for many small businesses in Wisconsin.

The state department of health held a listening session today in Eau Claire to discuss the changes, but many small business owners never knew it was going on.

"I just found out this morning about this, and I'm surprised first off, and secondly I'm a little bit outraged that there wasn't more notice given so we could go and speak our peace," says Missy Ojibway, Innkeeper at the Augusta Victorian Rose Bed and Breakfast.

She’s not alone.

"I would have gone, because it affects my business," says Veronica Swanson, owner of Inkorporated Tattoo and Body Piercing in Eau Claire. "It's just one more thing to break us and put us small businesses out of business."

The state says it's to correct a nearly 1 million dollar budget deficit with the department of health, and that it wouldn't have a big effect.

Swanson disagrees.

"It says the proposed changes do not have an economic impact, which I don’t think is true,” she says. “They don't know how the services industries work. It's not just oh, it's $300 more. It's $300. That's a lot, for me."

Both women say with fuel prices on the rise and business being slow, they aren't sure how they'll cover the extra costs.

"It's going to be deferred somewhere, and that's going to come back down to the customers," says Ojibway.

But both Ojibway and Swanson offer some solutions of their own.

"I don’t really have the problem with them increasing the fees, I have a problem with them increasing the fees as much as they are," says Swanson.

"I think they could bring in extra money by increasing fees for people in violation of the health code," suggests Ojibway.

None of these proposals have yet been approved. There are more listening sessions in other regions around the state this week.

Tuesday, August 12, 10am-2pm:
Northern Regional Office Conference Room
2187 North Stevens Street Suite C
Rhinelander, WI 54701

Wednesday, August 13, 10am-2pm:
Northeastern Regional Office Conference Room
200 North Jefferson Street, Room 152A
Green Bay, WI 53202

Thursday, August 14, 10am-2pm:
Southeastern Regional Office Conference Room
819 North 6th Street, Room 40
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Friday, August 15, 10am-2pm:
State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services
1 W. Wilson Street Room B155
Madison, WI 53703