Jasper Theatre Gets a Break

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Jasper Theatres will soon get a break in the form of a reduced pouring fee, according to a new policy passed this month.During its November meeting, the Jasper City Council approved a second reading of the new special category for theatre groups, establishing a new fee for local theatres that want to sell alcohol.

As reported in October, the new fee will be implemented per request of theatre group. Last month, The Tater Patch Players requested its fee be reduced, due to its pallid alcohol sales this year. The group’s current alcohol fee is $850, but because of its low number of alcohol sales it requested its fee be reduced to $200.

The city not only had to amend its ordinance for a new theatre fee, but also had to set up a new $200 fee for all local community theatre groups applying for the license in the future.

In analyzing the request, City Clerk Tacie Williams explained that the city prorated the cost of the beer and wine pouring license with the number of the theatre’s performances from the previous year.

“It came to about $170 to $178 dollars. They actually asked us for a license of $200. We thought that was fair based on the number of days they had on the opportunity to sell,”

Williams said in the meeting.

In addition to the new category for theatre groups, council also approved a motion for an overall change in alcohol licenses. This decision comes as a result of the August approval to eliminate the city’s Sunday alcohol license fee allowing businesses to sell alcohol by the drink. The decision was approved to accommodate its citizens’ decision to allow for Sunday sales of alcohol by the package, which passed on the July ballot. The elimination allowed for one Sunday alcohol license, permitting Sunday alcohol sales by the drink. It also made it possible for all businesses to sell on Sunday whether by the drink or by the package.

Williams noted, however, that during the decision council realized that it had to revisit the move, because the city would lose approximately $3000 in its budget by eliminating the fee.

“We realized that if we would just increase the fees per entity by $100 that it would recoup that fee very easily,”

Williams said, speaking on behalf of the city’s Planning and Development Director, Michael Castagna. Williams added that some businesses paying the previous Sunday license fee of $300 will see a reduction in their alcohol license fee, while others may see an increase.

“Overall, the $100 annually will be easier to digest across all of our current alcohol license holders,”

Williams said.

The next Jasper City Council meeting is scheduled for December 3rd at 6:00 P.M. at Jasper City Hall.

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