HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-17-2010 - 4qORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 17, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No. <{- -q
SUBJECT: Resolution in Support of North Carolina's Current Public Alcoholic Beverage
Control System
DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Draft Resolution
May 5, 2009 BOCC Resolution
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank Clifton, 245-2300
PURPOSE: To consider approval of a resolution requested by the Orange County ABC Board
supporting North Carolina's current public Alcoholic Beverage Control System.
BACKGROUND: The issues of changing and/or privatizing North Carolina's public Alcoholic
Beverage Control System have been discussed significantly in recent years. In response to
several bills introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly in 2009, the Orange County
ABC Board requested the Board of Commissioners consider a resolution opposing agency
stores for the sale of spirits where ABC stores were authorized but not in operation. (An
"agency store" is a private retail seller like a grocery store, pharmacy or convenience store.)
The ABC board would have contracted with an agency store for the sale of spirits.
The BOCC subsequently adopted the resolution opposing agency stores in May 2009, and a
copy of that resolution is attached for reference purposes.
The Orange County ABC Board has recently requested that the Board of Commissioners
consider a new resolution supporting North Carolina's Current Public Alcoholic Beverage
Control System. Discussions have occurred regarding the possible privatization of the .ABC
system, and Governor Beverly Perdue has recently indicated an interest in studying a move to
privatization.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
resolution.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve the resolution,
authorize the Chair to sign it, and direct the Clerk to the Board to forward the signed resolution
to the Orange County ABC Board.
REs-ao~~-a~3
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NORTH CAROLINA' S CURRENT
PUBLIC ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL SYSTEM
WHEREAS, Chapter 18B of the North Carolina General Statutes addresses the regulation
of alcoholic beverages in our state; and
WHEREAS, current North Carolina law establishes a uniform system of control over the
sale, purchase, transportation, manufacture, consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages
in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, local government control is central to the current alcoholic beverage control
system; it is a local decision to establish and operate ABC stores; and local government, acting
through an appointed local ABC Board, balances the control, profits and availability of spirits in
its jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, when local voters approved liquor sales for off-premises consumption, the
voters did not vote to allow liquor to be sold in private retail establishments, but only through
publicly controlled local ABC stores; and
WHEREAS, current law provides that profits from ABC store sales are returned to local
government, and this revenue stream is a critical source of local government funding; and
WHEREAS, it is a priority to maintain current sources of revenue, especially in the
current challenging economic times;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners does hereby support the continuance of the Alcoholic Beverage Control System
and opposes any efforts to privatize the ABC system, diminish local control or to diminish the
local government revenue stream afforded from local ABC store profits.
Adopted this 17~' day of August, 2010.
Valerie Foushee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Attest:
~~Jc .aQC) ~1 -d 36
~~~~ ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COIVIlVIISSI
ONERS
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ORANGE COUNTY ABC BOARD'S OPERATION OF ABC
STORES AND OPPOSING "AGENCY STORES"
WHEREAS, the people of Orange County voted to permit the sale of spirituous liquor through the
establishment of the Orange County ABC Board, which is a part of the North Carolina's control
system for the sale of spirituous liquors; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 839/House Bi11768 (Modernization of the ABC System) would permit agency
stores for the sale of spirits where ABC stores are authorized but not in operation and require an ABC
board to contract with an agency store; and
WHEREAS, an "agency store" is a private retail seller like a grocery store, pharmacy or convenience
store and the people of Orange County did not vote to allow spirits to be sold in such private off-
premise retail establishments; and
WHEREAS, the State does not appropriate funds for the operation of the ABC Commission or its
warehouse, which are funded by spirits sales, or for local ABC Boards; and
WHEREAS, Orange County desires to retain North Carolina's control system over the sales of spirits
and to continue to make spirits available to its residents only through its ABC stores; and
WHEREAS, it is a local decision to establish and operate an ABC store and any decision not to open
an ABC Store should be made by the local ABC Board, not the State of North Carolina;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, desire
to maintain the operation of the County's ABC stores through the control system and oppose agency
stores.
This the 5~' day of May 2009.
7/~..~~
Valerie P. Foushee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Attest:
Donna ~ake% Clerk `~ '
Orange County Board of
~a~a
3