No November vote on Sun. alcohol in Athens

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Athens, Ga., officials have decided not to include Sunday alcohol sales on the ballot in November due to the cost, and for fear the issue could draw a crowd that would vote against a 1 percent sales tax for public schools, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. 

County officials plan to instead wait until a 2012 presidential primary to put the issue before voters.

Athens-Clarke County Commissioners said because county elections are on an even-year schedule, they did not include in their 2011 budget the $54,000 it would cost to hold an election in the fall. The Clarke County School District did budget for an election, and will ask voters in November to approve the Education Local Option Sales Tax to pay for school construction, the newspaper reports.

The county’s Legislative Review Committee is expected to recommend a Sunday sales referendum in March.

Although Athens residents will not vote in November, the city’s neighbors in Hoschton and Comer will vote on Sunday sales in the fall when they go to the polls to elect city officials, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.