OLD PORT

Bars to pay hefty, new tax

By Noah Bruce

As expected, City Council decided to levy a tax on Old Port bars to pay for police overtime in the area at its meeting August 20 (see “Paying the coppers,” Phoenix, August 17, 2001).

The tax will cost the bars $4.50 multiplied by the bar’s occupancy with a maximum of $1500. Digger’s, the Stone Coast, the Pavilion, and the Old Port Tavern will each have to pay the maximum. The tax will raise $29,000 and when combined with the $15,000 to be collected by the Portland Downtown District from downtown businesses (including, once again, the bars) will most likely cover this summer’s police overtime expenditures in the Old Port.

Most bar owners feel the money should come from the general fund (i.e. the property tax). Russell Riseman, owner of the Alehouse on Market Street, who will have to cough up $747 under the new tax, says his “reaction is one of disappointment yet . . . we knew it was going to pass. The issues of public safety and problem bars have not been solved. We need to address these issues before next year.”

The tax has a “sunset provision” that causes it to expire after one year, but could simply be repeated next year. However, it does give the city a year to iron out kinks in the assessment of the tax such as redrawing the overlay zone which determines who must pay or charging peaceful bars less than those that consistently require police attention.

In related news, the council ruled that after-hours, chem-free dancing in the old port will be open only to people over 18. The council was previously considering banning anyone under 18 and over 21, but decided to abandon this obviously silly idea.