County Delegates Approve New Business, Liquor License Fees

UPDATED (4:45p.m.) — Delegates from Baltimore County approved about $1.2 million in new fee increases to business and liquor licenses in the county.

The county's House delegation voted this morning 12-5 to approve $917,000 in business fee increases. The delegation voted 14-3 to approve about $350,000 in increases to liquor licenses fees.

Del. John Olszewski Jr., chairman of the delegation, abstained from voting on both bills following his practice of not casting votes on delegation bills except in cases of ties or close votes, the delegate said after the meeting.

Del. Wade Kach, a Republican who represents much of northern Baltimore County, said he voted against the increases to business licenses because of the economy.

"As I look around Baltimore County and see once-prosperous areas, I think the last thing in the world we need is any increase in fees or taxes," said Kach, who said he voted for the increases to liquor licenses because the increases were not opposed by the Licensed Beverage Association.

Earlier in the morning, members of the delegation's Business and Economic Development Subcommittee voted to approve a reduced-rate schedule. On Thursday, five of the county's eight senators voted to support the same fee increases.

Under the , County Executive Kevin Kamenetz sought to have the legislature give the county the authority to raise the fees on its own. That power  is now held by the General Assembly.

"When the bill first came to the delegation, it was dead on arrival," said Del. Eric Bromwell, a Perry Hall Democrat who chairs the delegation's subcommittee.

Members of the House and Senate delegations made it clear early on that they were not willing to give up that power. Amendments to the bill keep the power in the General Assembly and have legislators approving the new fees.

"I just think there is going to be more oversight [in the legislature] than in the County Council," Bromwell said. "Here, you need 11 votes just to get a bill out of delegation, and there are only seven council members."

Additionally, the fee increases were opposed by the Licensed Beverage Association, the Chamber of Commerce and a number of retailer associations.

Bromwell said most of the groups have now withdrawn their opposition.

Part of the new schedule to liquor license holders, as was reported last week. County Executive Kevin Kamenetz asked for nearly $900,000 in increases to liquor license holders.

Kamenetz also asked for more than $1.2 million in increases to various business licenses. The subcommittee approved a compromise that will increase license fees by about $917,000.

County officials said the increases are needed to cover the cost of administering the licenses.

Kamenetz last month told county legislators that the county will lose $200,000 in administrative costs related to liquor licenses alone.

Yolanda Winkler, the county's lobbyist, said Friday that figure is now closer to $338,000 when police costs are included. Winkler said the county reached that figure by including any call for police service where alcohol was a factor.

Bromwell said that while many in the legislature oppose new taxes this year, because of the economy, the fee increases can't be looked at in the same way.

"This isn't for revenue generation," Bromwell said. "This is to cover the cost of the administrative work that goes into these licenses."