St. Cloud Considering Liquor License Fee Increase

ST. CLOUD - The St. Cloud City Council is considering raising liquor license fees for the first time in several years.

The last time St. Cloud increased the fee for a liquor license was 11 years ago, back in 2004. A proposed increase was brought to the City Council in 2009, but that was not approved because we were in the great recession at the time.

The city estimates they spend about $300,000 a year on things like police compliance checks, responding to fights, and in attorney's fees prosecuting liquor-related offenses. Liquor license fees currently generate about $192,000.

City Clerk Gregg Engdahl is proposing an increase for an on-sale license generally between $200 and $300, and an increase for an off-sale license of $100. That would increase revenue up to nearly $209,000. Engdahl says St. Cloud generally charges less for liquor licenses than other cities like Mankato, Moorhead, and Duluth.

The proposed fee increase is intended to go into effect for the 2016-2017 license period.

The St. Cloud City Council will discuss the proposal during Monday night's work study session.