Marathon County eateries, hotels, and bars are paying more to be inspected by the public health department.

That's so taxpayers will be entirely relieved from the burden. But it's making it difficult for businesses struggling to survive.

In order to stay licensed, at least once a year businesses undergo public health inspections.

"The cost has been going up about ten percent a year for the last three years to the point where the health department wants to increase it to about $1,250 for me," said George Hiles, who owns George's Marathon Foods in Marathon City.

Last month he says he paid nearly $900 for his yearly inspection.

That's a lot for the grocery store and deli owner, who says he's barely scraping by.

"I have to have that license to stay in business. It's tough and a lot of other people say the same thing, a lot of the business people," he said.

The reason for the increase? So that the inspection program becomes self-sufficient by 2013, and taxpayers no longer have to chip in.

It's a decision the health board made in 2008.

"It's beyond just going in for a two to three hour inspection, writing up the report, there are a lot of additional services that are part of the package," said Joan Theurer, Marathon County's health officer.

She says its a question of who should pay for keeping our food and services safe.

And right now it's the price of doing business in Marathon County.

One way to make up the difference for higher fees is for operators to raise their prices.. but Hiles says that wouldn't be fair to his valued customers.

"It's hard in a recession to charge people more," he said.

Theurer says the board will re-evaluate the inspection program within the next few months.