An attempt is being made to hold a local option election allowing the retail sale of liquor in package stores.
The Murphy Chamber of Commerce will begin circulating a petition for the City Council to place the issue on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Voters would be asked whether they are for or against “the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages,” according to a legal notice from the Chamber published in the Murphy Monitor.
“The city of Murphy is currently losing valuable tax revenue to neighboring communities,” said Luke Trahan, chairman of the chamber’s Local Option Committee. “This is largely because Murphy has not yet completed the local option process that surrounding cities have already embraced.” Trahan said the petition would begin circulating on May 17.
Murphy held local option elections for alcohol sales in November 2002 and May 2012.
The 2002 election allowed restaurants to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption, known as “liquor by the drink.” In 2012, voters approved the retail sale of beer and wine for off-premises consumption by grocery and convenience stores.
“I support the chamber’s petition effort for packaged liquor sales,” Mayor Scott Bradley said Tuesday, May 5. “Allowing packaged liquor sales would improve convenience for residents, expand economic opportunities and generate additional sales tax revenue for the city.”
Trahan said the primary concern expressed by residents was to ensure that public safety was not negatively impacted.
“I have no reservations whatsoever,” about having package stores in Murphy, Police Chief Jeff Gibson said.
Photo: Stephen Ventura/Unsplash
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