WEST CAPE MAY — A town meeting will be held in Borough Hall tonight at 7 p.m. to provide voters with information on three questions on the ballot in the Nov. 4 election here concerning the borough selling two liquor licenses that could provide over $1 million in tax relief.
A panel comprised of Borough Solicitor Frank Corrado, Cape May Police Chief Diane Sorantino and Borough Auditor Leon Costello will take questions from the public.
The ballots questions are:
• Should the borough sell a restaurant liquor license?
• Should the borough sell a retail liquor license that would allow package sales?
• Should 100 percent of the money be placed in a dedicated trust fund for long-term tax relief for residents?
By state law, the borough is only eligible for two liquor licenses. Without a 10,000-person increase in West Cape May’s population, the number will not change.
If approved by voters, each license would have a minimum bid price estimated between $650,000 and $750,000 each, based on the recent sale price of licenses in neighboring towns.
Last November, Mayor Pamela Kaithern said the borough does not have new sources of revenue such as beach tags or parking meters that could ultimately affect the survival of West Cape May.
One license is available for a new or existing restaurant. Borough commissioners have stressed their commitment to tie food service to any restaurant liquor sales and have the ability to set limits on things such as the number of seats, hours of operation and location.
The second license would be for retail liquor sales.
All revenue received from the sale of the two licenses would be placed in a dedicated trust fund to be used solely for local tax relief over the next 12-16 years.
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