Hedlund Administration to Waive Liquor License Renewal Fees to Assist Businesses During the Pandemic

town hall

In an effort to help offset some of the economic impacts that the COVID-19 global pandemic has had on Weymouth businesses, Mayor Hedlund authorized a waiver on liquor license renewal fees for calendar year 2021.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to progress and necessitate heightened restrictions on businesses, particularly food and drinking establishments, Weymouth Town Officials identified ways to mitigate the financial and economic impacts. Those businesses whose all alcohol licenses, beer and malt, and farmer brewing pouring licenses are up for renewal at the end of 2020 will not be required to pay the renewal fees, allowing businesses to retain the license through 2021.

“Many businesses are operating in a reduced capacity or not at all, so charging a full license renewal fee for limited operation seems unfair to those businesses that are already suffering during a pandemic,” said Mayor Hedlund. “Waiving the fees allows businesses to maintain their licenses and hopefully be prepared to open up and operate when restrictions are lifted.”

Annually, the Town receives about $120,000 in revenue from all liquor license renewal fees. The Town’s finance team, led by Chief of Staff Ted Langill and CFO James Malary, determined that the budget could handle the reduced revenue and that it was more beneficial from an economic and equity standpoint to assist businesses during the pandemic.

“We have implemented a small business grant program to help our local economy stay strong and this is an additional measure we are taking to help Weymouth businesses through the pandemic,” said Chief of Staff Langill. “The bottom line is, without our local Weymouth businesses, Weymouth does not have a strong local economy. This has been the foundation for affording much of the progress we have seen in Weymouth over the last five years.”

Because the fees are small sums, ranging from $1,150-$2,600, the Town determined that a full waiver was appropriate in lieu of a prorated or reduced rate. The Town will look into recouping unrealized license revenues through potential federal or state grant monies but is confident the budget will be able to handle the reduction in revenue largely due to strict measures taken in March of 2020 and the highly conservative approach to the FY21 budget.

“Thanks to Hedlund Administration’s approach of responsible budgeting, we are in a position to offer this waiver and still expect to meet the revenue levels needed to support the fiscal year 2021 budget,” said CFO James Malary.

If businesses have questions about their liquor license renewal fees or status, please contact the Department of Municipal Licenses and Inspections at 781-340-5004.