The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has proposed to increase vending machine license fees by 567% per machine. This is an outrageous increase on an industry that embodies the term “small business entrepreneurs.” The impact upon these businesses would be substantially increasing the cost of business for vending operators. It will surely make the products more expensive for the consumer and would likely force some vending operators out of business.

Vending machines provide a wide variety of food products to customers in many locations where other options are not easily accessible. Vending machines can be found in recreational facilities, in colleges and universities, in public and private schools and in hospitals and nursing homes. We are in business where convenience stores and cafeterias cannot be located, we provide immediate access to food, drinks and snacks and we are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We serve the public.

Vending companies pay income taxes, payroll taxes, real estate taxes, personal property taxes, fuel taxes, to name the most common. We pay registration fees, various operating license fee and tolls all supporting the government’s taxation on our businesses. We hire local employees who contribute in their own ways to the local economies and pay their fair share of taxes.

This proposed increase is exorbitant. The fees charged by the Department of Health for most businesses Is several hundred dollars. This increase will “tax” vending companies in the thousands of dollars. It could result in some job losses and surely will affect the prices of your vending favorites.

Help us by signing our petition and loudly proclaiming to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health your opposition to this proposed increase. Say NO to this proposal.