McDonnell offers to Make Some Changes to ABC Privatization Plan

Faced with some opposition to the taxes involved in the privatization plan, Governor McDonnell today signaled that he would be willing to tweak the plan. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch:

"Gov. Bob McDonnell's staff today proposed an altered alcohol privatization plan that would eliminate the proposed 2.5 percent optional tax on restaurant alcohol sales and a 1 percent tax on wholesale liquor sales.

The governor's revised plan also creates a fourth tier of retail licenses for small dealers with less than 3,000 square feet of space. One hundred of those licenses would be reserved for the smallest dealers.

Bidders who win licenses in three of the four categories all but the largest, big-box retailers could pay for their licenses over a period of three to five years".