County Breaks Half-Million Dollar Mark For Gross Sales of Alcohol

By Eugenia Jones
eugenia@highland.net

McCreary County businesses have raked in $631,718.06 for total gross sales of alcohol since the legal sale of alcoholic beverages began earlier this year at the end of February. $253,645.68 of the total gross sales has occurred since July 1-the start of the County’s Fiscal Year.
The latest report from the McCreary County Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Office indicates the County has, since February, collected $49,953.63 from regulatory fees and sales of licenses. The County is required to pay all administrative expenses necessary to maintain local sales of alcohol including the salaries of an ABC Director and other related staff. The current McCreary County budget designates 1.7% ($80,000) of its General Fund revenue from projected alcoholic beverage fees and appropriates $35,000 (including salaries) for Alcohol Beverage Control expenses. Dollars left over after appropriations for ABC administrative expenses and salaries are paid are strictly regulated and will go toward Law Enforcement or programs to educate students on alcohol related issues.