Officials to consider new tax on liquor

CLOVIS — With the sale of alcohol approved in Curry County, county officials are looking to introduce a new tax on sellers to help cover expected service costs.

The Curry County Board of Commissioners will consider imposing a new $250 a year liquor tax for sellers outside Clovis.

The discussion is set to take place during the commission’s regular meeting on Thursday.

Curry County residents voted last year to allow the sale of alcohol in the unincorporated areas of the county and the new tax has been introduced to cover additional costs the county expects to be incurred from the change.

Money from the tax will go toward county police and other county services that may be affected by the sale of alcohol.

The tax will affect retailers, dispensers, and canopy, restaurant or club license owners selling alcohol outside the city of Clovis. Sellers would pay $250 to the county clerk’s office yearly starting July 1, 2020.

Any prior resolutions regarding alcohol that have been approved by the commission inconsistent with the new resolution would be rescinded.

Other action items from the 9 a.m. meeting Thursday at the Commission Chambers include:

• The commission will receive an update on the Curry County Adult Detention Center Addition and Renovation project from representatives from HB Construction and ASA Architects.

Following that, there will also be two resolutions for change orders for the project: a deductive change order for $8,993.82 and a change order regarding the additional cameras found needing replacements that were not in the initial renovation plans.

• The commission will take action on a budget adjustment to add a recently awarded $27,804.85 grant to the Ranchvale Volunteer Fire Station project for the construction of a water storage tank.

• County Treasurer Debbie Spriggs will give several reports from the Board of Finance including: a report on correcting $460,000 in funds that were placed in the wrong account, a report on investing funds and a report on the overpayment of property tax distribution for Clovis Community College.

• The commission will consider action on the removal of the events center scoreboard.

• The commission will receive an update on the courthouse HVAC upgrade and renovation project.

• County Manager Lance Pyle will report on the upcoming Curry County Community Development Block Grant Hearings on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13.

Pyle will also report on a foster grandparent program fund augmentation and stipend increase, as well as county detention distribution for Fiscal Year 2020.

• The commission will take action on a resolution to certify over 1,338 miles of county roads, as well as take action on an item to temporarily close Curry Road C between Curry Road 16 and Curry Road 17 due to road conditions and an influx of traffic.