A group of Erath County residents, business owners and community members gathered April 7 at Stephenville’s Chili’s location to announce a petition to support balancing the alcohol sales rules for all of Erath County.
The petition will allow a vote for the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages including mixed beverages in Erath County. Dublin voters approved a similar option during the November 2020 general election, but the petition seeks to make the rules consistent across all of Erath County.
Organizers say the biggest reason for supporting the change is that in order to sell alcohol, restaurants are required to operate as a private club, which can be costly according to the Texas Restaurant Association.
Among the first to sign the petition during the press event was the managing partner at Chili’s Stephenville location, Aubrey Batten, who reported that his location was the only one in Texas that was still required to operate as private club.
For the vote to appear on the Nov. 2, 2021 ballot, the petition will need to gather the signatures of more than 4,400 Erath County voters by June 4.
In addition to supporting restaurants throughout the County, the group and petition support expansion of current sales to include fine wine and package stores.
Court Cole, owner of Bull Nettle Bar & Grill, commented, “According to the Texas Restaurant Association, it can cost between $3,000 to $20,000 a year to be a private club. These bureaucratic and red tape fees don’t create one new job or generate any tax revenue for the city. It just increases the cost of business that restaurants like Chill’s or Bull Nettle have to pay.”
Based on a 2008 study by Texas Economist Ray Ferryman, Erath County can see a significant increase in sales, jobs and local tax revenue.
Brady Pendleton, local attorney and member of the City Council added, “Based on our population, studies show we could be gaining as much as $10 million dollars a year in additional sales, nearly 100 new jobs and generate another $200,000 in local sales tax revenue. Changing this law could be a great benefit to our community.”
Aubrey Batten, Managing Partner at the Stephenville Chili’s, said “All we are asking for is a level playing field for restaurants. Complying with private club rules is burdensome on the company and confusing to our customers. We appreciate those willing to sign the petition so voters can decide the issue next November.”
The US Census Bureau places Erath County’s population at 42,698. Based on the calculations of a 25,000-population entity, the county taxing entities currently receives as much as $ 22.4 million in annual sales and over $522,000 in local tax revenues because of being ‘partially wet’.
Organizers argue that removing the County’s dry status for spirits (package liquor sales) and the private club rules for on-premises establishments, the local tax revenues could increase local tax revenues as much as an additional $10 million in annual spending, nearly 100 more jobs and another $210,000 in local sales tax revenues, a near 40% increase in alcohol related tax revenue.
If enough signatures are gathered, the Erath County Commissioners Court will be required to order the election for November 2, 2021.
Anyone wishing to sign the petition can do so at the following supporting businesses Chili’s, Bull Nettle Bar and Grill and Hearsay Wine Bar.
The group has hired Texas Petition Strategies of Austin to conduct the petition drive and election campaign. TPS has conducted more than 450 local option ballot propositions in more than 250 Texas communities.