Budget cut would strip Liquor Control of most of its money

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A proposed 85 percent budget cut to the state Liquor Control Division would pretty much shut down the agency responsible for enforcing alcohol laws, said the agency's director.

Supporters of the cut said Monday that it would streamline the division, remove burdensome bureaucracy and free up money for alcohol and drug abuse treatment.

Last week, the House Budget Committee endorsed a $19 billion state budget for next fiscal year, including about $600,000 for the Division of Liquor Control -- $3.5 million less than this year's budget.

The fiscal 2003 budget is expected to be considered by the full House when lawmakers return from spring break April 2.

Most of the money was cut by Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, who is unhappy with how Liquor Control operates in his community, the home of the University of Missouri-Columbia.

His budget amendment transferred 67 employee positions at Liquor Control to the state Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse for treatment programs.

Graham said his intent was to eliminate Liquor Control enforcement agents while leaving just enough money to issue liquor licenses. The state collects about $30 million annually in liquor license fees.

'Nearly impossible'

But if the proposed budget cut becomes law, Liquor Control may be unable to issue licenses, said Keith Fuller, supervisor of the Missouri Division of Liquor Control.

The cut "would make issuing state liquor licenses nearly impossible, it would make collecting taxes and fees in the amount of nearly $30 million nearly impossible and it would make enforcement of liquor licenses essentially impossible," Fuller said.

About 12,000 bars and restaurants must apply or reapply to the state for liquor licenses each year. Many establishments have several state licenses, including special ones for Sunday sales and catering. All told, the division annually issues 24,000 licenses.

Most cities and counties also issue liquor licenses.

The budget cut would leave state Liquor Control with nine employees, Fuller said. The division currently has six offices throughout the state, including in Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis.

Graham said local police departments, such as Columbia's, can already receive grants to help curb underage drinking.

At a time when lawmakers are searching for money to balance the budget, Graham said, it is ineffective to fund a program that is duplicated, and in some cases triplicated, by local communities.

In addition, Graham said that Liquor Patrol acts unfairly and too harshly.

Supporters of the cut said the money could better fight alcohol abuse by providing treatment for repeat drunken-driving offenders.

The budget cut also would reduce the layers of paperwork for restaurants and bars, said Pat Bergauer, executive vice president of the Missouri Restaurant Association. Businesses "feel that there is a tremendous amount of bureaucracy," Bergauer said. "It's not that they are complaining about the rules -- it's the layers, the duplication."