Business License Tax Forum - April 23, 2026

The City of Manhattan Beach held a Business License Tax Forum on April 23, 2026, to discuss potential updates to the city's business license tax code, which had not been comprehensively reviewed in about 50 years. The forum included presentations by city finance officials and consultants from HDL Companies, who shared a detailed tax study and proposed four alternative tax models aimed at simplifying the tax structure, improving fairness, and maintaining fiscal sustainability. Key procurement-related discussions focused on the potential impacts of removing or adjusting the current tax cap, consolidating tax categories, and modifying rates for different business types, including commercial property owners and professional services. The forum featured interactive polling to gather business community input on preferred tax models, with results to be presented to the City Council in May. The meeting also addressed concerns about double taxation of commercial property tenants, the rationale behind the existing cap, and the need for a more equitable and modernized tax system. Next steps include further community engagement, council deliberations, and a potential ballot measure in the November 2026 general election.