The city board of commissioners is scheduled to vote on a resolution Thursday night supporting the maintaining of local control over the sales and opposing a forced merger of community ABC boards.
Thursday night’s expected action, during a meeting that begins at 7 p.m., is a response to discussions under way in Raleigh which could radically reshape how ABC outlets operate in Mount Airy and elsewhere.
It is possible that this movement could result in the merger of all ABC boards in a county into a single system, with performance standards enforced for stores and boards in addition to private entities being contracted to sell alcohol.
The Mount Airy ABC Board has expressed concerns about the changes, which some critics consider a “money grab” by Gov. Bev Perdue and certain state legislators. Perdue set up a study committee to explore ABC reforms.
Financial and other considerations are reflected in the measure city officials will consider Thursday, which points out that any such action on the state level would violate what voters here intended when approving the Mount Airy store some 30 years ago. The resolution also cites the value of local ABC revenues in funding municipal operations.
It argues that any decision to have an ABC store in a community is a local one and city voters approved liquor sales with the understanding that the store would be operated by the Mount Airy ABC Board. That board now is part of North Carolina’s state ABC control system.
The resolution additionally states that the decision by local government officials to operate with a low profit margin does not reduce liquor excise taxes received by the state, so the latter “does not have a financial interest in the profitability of ABC stores.”
Private Store Concerns
The measure expected to be approved by Mount Airy officials also cites a number of fears regarding private store operations.
Again, local citizens did not approve the idea of liquor being sold in “private off-premises retail establishments,” the resolution of support states.
As do their counterparts in other areas of the state, Mount Airy officials fear that private retail sellers, or agency stores, would lead to less controls in preventing liquor sales to minors and intoxicated persons. That would potentially create law enforcement and other problems, according to the resolution’s wording.
Overall, the city is taking a position opposing any state requirement to merge ABC boards, mandate the merger or closure of liquor stores and establish agency stores.
Abuses uncovered among some local ABC operations has fueled the proposed statewide changes, including one report that the top ABC official in New Hanover County was paid nearly $215,000 in the 2009 fiscal year. That annual base salary didn’t include a bonus of $30,000 for the official in question, whose son also was employed as an assistant at $115,000 per year.
In responding to such disclosures, the governor has said she has a problem with local ABC officials being able to run their own pay and other systems “with no reason or rationale behind it.”
However, critics of the statewide-control initiative say most local ABC stores aren’t guilty of extravagances and that privatizing liquor sales could lead to higher prices for consumers. In South Carolina, which allows private stores, bottles are marked up as much as 20 percent higher than in North Carolina, they say.
Other Business
Also at its meeting Thursday night, the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners is scheduled to:
n Discuss another alcohol-related issue involving the sale of beer and wine at street festivals in the city. Board members initially debated the matter in January, and seemed to generally agree with a plan aimed at tweaking existing guidelines on street festivals in order to expand sales opportunities by local wine and beer producers.
On Thursday night, officials will further discuss amendments to the City Code regulating street festivals. While the municipality has allowed sales of wine at permitted street festivals under a measure approved several years ago, the proposed amendments would allow more leeway for beverage sales during events.
The changes governing sales would affect activities such as an upcoming wine festival this spring, and not traditional gatherings such as the Autumn Leaves Festival. In addition, the sales would be limited to areas downtown, with access controlled.
n Hear a presentation from members of Skate Mount Airy Inc., regarding the status of its plans to develop a skateboarding park in the city.
n Consider a resolution authorizing Mount Airy’s application for a state Fit Community Grant. The grant, which does not require local matching funds, would total $60,000 over a two-year period. It is targeted for improvements to the Tharrington Park area near B.H. Tharrington Primary School, which would increase physical fitness opportunities for the students and staff.
Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.
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