Clark County justices of the peace on Monday heard an update from the group that has set out to get the county’s controversial wet/dry issue on the November ballot.
Tim Kauffman, who is overseeing the Let the People Decide 2010 ballot initiative committee, spoke to justices during the regular Quorum Court meeting in the District Courtroom. He requested to be on the agenda to educate the county’s lawmaking body on the group’s goals.
No group opposing Kauffman’s committee was at the meeting to present an argument.
Kauffman said the county’s dry status is an “economic issue,” citing evidence from the Del Boyette study that indicates there would be an increase in revenue from a hospitality industry. The Economic Development Corp. of Clark County hired the Boyette-Levy economic development firm to perform a five-year “blueprint” of how the county should tackle its growth efforts, and the wet/dry issue was published in the study.
Kauffman said Clark County becoming wet, meaning allowing liquor sales in package stores and beer/wine permits for restaurants and convenience stores, would only be a “piece of the puzzle” for economic growth.
The committee is in the process of collecting enough valid signatures for the question to go on the November ballot.
Justice Jonathan Huber asked Kauffman what the deadline is for the group to get the issue on the ballot. Kauffman replied that petitions must be turned in 60-90 days before Election Day (Aug. 2 until Sept. 2). He added that the group is aiming to turn in the petitions early in case the issue is challenged in court.
Justice E.B. Green asked how many package stores would be allowed in Clark County, to which Kauffman replied that the number is based on population. There would be five package stores allowed in the county, he said, and convenience stores would be allowed to apply for permits from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control board to sell beer and wine. Package stores could sell liquor, beer and wine; and others with permits (like gas stations and restaurants) could sell only beer and wine.
Huber asked Kauffman how much tax revenue the group projects liquor sales would bring to the county. Kauffman said he did not know, as no study has been published to indicate those figures.
Justice Tom Calhoon noted that many Clark County residents do not understand that the ballot initiative is to get the question on the ballot — not to legalize or endorse alcohol sales, but to allow people to vote on the matter. Kauffman added that there have been some people who have signed after telling petitioners they would vote against the issue if it were on the ballot. He said petitioners must collect 38 percent of the total registered voters’ signatures, and that final number will be announced on June 1. He said the group has collected “over half” of its goal, but did not provide exact figures.
