June 16, 2020–12:11 p.m.
STAFF REPORTS
The Rome Alcohol Control Commission has gone on record as supporting a refund of alcohol fees paid by pouring establishments impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdown.
According to Rome City Clerk Joe Smith, the ACC has not historically been involved in setting license fees, so any recommendation to offer a rebate would be up to the finance committee, which meets Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m.
The ACC is asking the refund be for a minimum of two months for pouring establishments citywide.
Smith said there are currently 65 or so pouring establishments in the City of Rome who could benefit.
Last week, the city commission voted down a measure that would have allowed for public consumption downtown for 60 days.
Backers of that plan said it would have allowed for some of these businesses to make up some of the revenue lost during the pandemic.