The Peoria, Illinois city council unanimously voted to lower liquor license and video gaming license fees by 50 percent.
Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich said, “The intent behind that is just simply to make it a little bit easier from a regulatory perspective on all of our restaurants so that we can see them continue to be around as we move forward into 2021.” Councilman Sid Ruckriegel added, “What this does is let our businesses know that we understand the expenses, the fragility of their business and the fact that they’ve had to tailor their business or in some cases not be able to operate at all.”
City officials noted the most common liquor license is a tavern license at $1,100 and a Class B restaurant license at $1,300; the most common subclass license is a 4 a.m. license at $3,500, a 2 a.m. license at $800 and a beer garden license at $200.
According to council members, all of the city’s 229 current bars and restaurants are eligible for the discount. Those found guilty of violating the governor’s executive Covid-19 orders would have to pay the full amount for their fees.
The fee reductions do not apply to a total of 49 grocery stores, liquor stores, gas stations and other locations that hold packaged licenses but do not offer on-site consumption.
Liquor and video license renewals were extended from late February to April 30. License holders will not be penalized with late fees until May 1.
Councilman Zach Oyler cautioned, “It’s painful for these businesses to pay fees and turn over revenue without collecting any. But I don’t know how we are going to police it. If a business shows up and says it played by the rules, I don’t know how anyone is going to determine they did unless we send people out to verify, which there the staff for us to do isn’t. I don’t have a problem with the theory of giving a break to businesses that have lost revenue. But I don’t know we are going to tell the difference.”
