The Mountlake Terrace City Council has scheduled a public hearing to consider Resolutions in Opposition to Initiative Measure No. 1100 and No. 1105 that will appear on the November 2, 2010 ballot. The Council’s options include (1) do nothing; (2) adopt one or both resolutions; (3) adopt a different motion or resolution relating to the initiatives.
Initiative 1100 would eliminate state-run liquor stores, allow grocery outlets to sell hard liquor, and eliminate the state’s liquor profits. I-1100 would maintain the liquor tax. Initiative 1105 would eliminate state-run liquor stores, allow grocery outlets to sell hard liquor, and eliminate both state liquor profits and the liquor tax.
Cities and counties receive General Fund revenue from the state’s tax on liquor and profits generated by 315 state-run liquor stores. The City of Mountlake Terrace received almost $250,000 in 2009 from state liquor taxes and it anticipates receiving approximately $258,000 and $266,000 in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
The public hearing is Monday, October 4 at 7 p.m. at the Interim City Hall Council Chambers, 6100 219th Street SW, Suite 220.
(Image: George’s Liquor, a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial (2.0) image from thomashawk’s photostream)
I am happy to report that as the only resident who spoke at last night’s public hearing, in addition to Stefan Sharkansky of Sound Politics who helped write Initiative 1100, the council decided unanimously not to adopt a resolution in opposition to I-1100 and one in opposition to I-1105. You may want to listen to the council meeting though for this segment. There were some interesting words from council members.
I like it! I wanted to go, but my schedule has just been crazy lately… I had a meeting last night to bring our HOA bylaws and rules up to date, so I was booked yet again… thanks for speaking up Andrew. I’m glad the council did the right thing to oppose 1105 and NOT 1100.1100 really is good thing for the state, and I just for the life of me can’t figure out why ANYONE would oppose to getting the state government out of the retail sector! Nearly all of the arguments opposing the initiative are empty and without merit or validity. Big beer trying to keep their profit margins. Thanks for being the voice of MLT reason! 🙂