In a 5-4 vote, the Bloomington City Council approved liquor license fee increases for the first time since 1982. The changes will begin next year, with subsequent increases in 2019 and 2021. The original proposal called for additional fees to be spread out over three years. Alderman Mboka Mwilambwe said the compromise will help businesses work out the details over a longer period of time.
“In three years, having an increase every single year, does not give them a chance to plan.”
Multiple bar owners showed up to protest the proposal. Joe Wargo, owner of Joe’s Pub, said he’s disappointed in the decision.
“I wish that there would have been a little bit more rhetoric, I suppose, amongst the council members. Although, I do understand that they have to, in some way, make a decision.”
Aldermen also considered adding a gaming fee for each machine a business operates, but they tabled that decision for 60 days to have more time to mull it over.