Reduces certain on-premises liquor license fees

Title of bill

An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to license fees

Purpose

Enactment of this legislation would lower the annual fee for a license to sell liquor at retail to be consumed on the premises where sold from fifteen hundred thirty six dollars to eight hundred ninety six dollars in the City of Buffalo, New York.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of this measure amends Subdivision 4 of Section 66 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control law as amended by Chapter 875 of the laws of 1983 by excluding those cities having a population of more than one hundred thousand and less than one million within Erie County from the fifteen hundred thirty six dollar annual liquor license fee.

Justification

Past history surrounding this statute indicates that the implementation of these fees was population-based. The present fees no longer reflect the population of the City of Buffalo. The previous differential in liquor license fees reflected a higher population density in urban areas and a lesser population in suburbia.

Over the course of time, the population shift to suburbia has not been reflected in the license fees charged by New York state to liquor license holders.

Furthermore, a reduction in license fees would encourage larger chains to locate in an urban area such as the city of Buffalo. presently, the higher fee encourages development in outlying areas while at the same time enticing city based license holders to move their establishments to the lower priced areas.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Legislative history

2001-02: S.1343/A.2038 No action 2003-04: S.1035/A.1969 No action 2004-05: S.1606/A.3052 No action 2007-08: S.1713/A.3422 Referred to Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.