City mulling alcohol tax

SANDPOINT — Despite the failure of a similar measure in 2007, the city is again mulling a 2-percent alcohol tax.

If successful, the tax would fund infrastructure improvements to Memorial Field.

The plan’s architect, Parks and Recreation Director Kim Woodruff, said the temporary tax would be used until enough funds are raised to bring the park’s ailing infrastructure up to safety standards.

While he will not compile official cost estimates until the plan is approved by the City Council, Woodruff said the upgrade will likely cost several hundred thousand dollars and take several years to raise.

The tax would target alcohol sold by the drink, leaving all other alcohol purchases untouched, Woodruff said.

The proposal needs council approval in order to earn a citywide vote. Once on the ballot, a 60-percent majority would be needed for approval.

Park maintenance is currently funded by user fees and general tax dollars, but Woodruff said numerous areas, particularly the grandstand, will soon need costly upgrades to meet basic safety standards.

“This facility has served the community for a long, long time. It’s served us well and we’re very proud of it,” Woodruff said. “I’m saying, ‘Hey, we need some help to get that gem back up to snuff.’”

Woodruff said he considered numerous other funding options, but came to the conclusion that the alcohol tax was best.

“Groceries are a necessity. Clothes are a necessity. Buying hardware to fix your house is a necessity. Alcohol by the drink, in my opinion, isn’t a necessity,” he said.

A similar alcohol tax failed in November 2007, but Woodruff said it was the  vagueness of the measure that doomed it. Using what he learned from the 2007 vote, Woodruff said he will present the new tax with complete transparency.

“Before we would ever bring this to the people for a vote, we would have rock-solid plans based on real figures,” Woodruff said. “We will ask the people, ‘Do you want to buy this and fund it this way?’ I’m not going to ask for a blank check. You, the citizen of Sandpoint, are going to know what you’re voting on.”

A 2006 fundraiser for the bandstand raised more than $50,000 for upgrades, but Woodruff said the work was only a Band-Aid for much more substantial problems with the facilities.

The proposal will go before the Administrative Committee at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.