After hearing from members of the business community, the Wenatchee City Council Thursday night voted to spread out increases to the city's business license fees.

The city had been looking at a 50 percent increase, across the board. Small business owners, two or fewer employees, would have seen the cost of an annual license go up from 50 dollars to 75 dollars. At the top end of the scale, businesses with more than 50 employees would have seen their annual license go up from 380 dollars to 570 dollars. Craig Larsen, Executive Director of the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce says at a time when businesses are struggling, the 50 percent increase, at one time, hurts.   The council voted to have 60 percent of the planned increase come next year and the rest in the following year. The last time business licenses were increased in the city was 15 years ago.