Many bars, restaurants and casinos that sell alcohol in Reno are worried the city is looking at increasing licensing fees by 50%-100%. City officials say they're sympathetic…
"I can imagine it would be a significant burden for anyone to have to all of a sudden 'hey, next year's budget, I've got to increase this portion of my budget by 50%."
That's Alex Woodley. He's Reno's Customer Service and Code
Enforcement Manager.
Right now, the city gets about $900,000 in alcohol fee
revenues each year that Woodley says help pay for alcohol-related
problems…
"…whether it's fights in the clubs, DUIs. But of course
because of the economy, the city is now having to maintain those
levels of service without the same revenue as was received in the
past."
City officials believe an increase would be reasonable because
it's been 15-years since the quarterly alcohol fee went up.
Public comment on the proposals is being taken this month and the
Reno City Council could take a vote in August.
