Sarno waives renewal fees for liquor licenses for restaurant, bars

Sept. 24, 2020 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD – If you have been granted a liquor license, the city is giving you a break this year – unless you have a package store.

Mayor Domenic Sarno has instructed the Board of License Commissioners to waive the annual alcohol fees. William Baker, Sarno’s communications director, told Reminder Publishing,  “The total annual amount the city will potentially be out by waiving these renewal fees is roughly $274,700.”

Package stores will still have to pay their renewal fees because Gov. Charlie Baker classified them as an essential business, Sarno noted.

In his memo to the commission he wrote, “Even with outdoor dining many restaurants are facing limited revenue projections that will likely last until 2021.”

The annual classifications of fees that will be waived this year include:

• All Alcoholic Restaurant License $2,800

• Beer and Wine License $1,500

•All Alcoholic General on premise $2,700

• Beer and Wine general on premise $1,400

• Club License $2,200

• Inn Holders License $4,500

• Small Inn Holders $1,700

Sarno is not waiving the Common Victualler license of $100, which any business that sells food must have.

Sarno stated in a written comment, “My administration has and will continue to work with our businesses and residents to help them survive, stabilize and just as important rebound quickly, as we continue to move to defeat this COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.  Simply put, this is the right thing to do.  Many of these establishments are opened only on a limited bases – some not at all.  Every little bit helps.

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