HARRISBURG, Pa.-– The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) today announced the return of almost $2 million in licensing fees to 1,103 municipalities in which the license holders are located.
These returns are required twice a year by law, and include money for liquor licenses that were paid by PLCB-approved locations be returned to the municipalities that serve as homes to these locations. Municipalities have the option in allocating and spending the returned license fees to meet their individual local needs. In the last five years, the PLCB has returned more than $22.4 million in licensing fees to its local municipalities.
The PLCB oversees more than 15,000 liquor licenses statewide, including restaurants, clubs and hotels. Licensees pay liquor license fees ranging from $125 to $700, with the price varying depending on the type of license and the population of the municipality in which the license holder is located. These fees are paid as part of an annual license renewal or validation process, as well as to gain approval of new applications.
The money being dispersed was collected from Aug. 1, 2015, to Jan. 31, 2016. In all, 43 cities, 412 boroughs and 648 townships have received funds ranging from $25 to $906,250.
The complete list of fee distributions by municipality is available on the PLCB website, www.lcb.state.pa.us.
The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates more than 600 wine and spirits stores statewide and licenses more than 20,000 beverage alcohol producers and retailers. Taxes and store profits, which total more than $14.5 billion since the agency’s inception, are returned to Pennsylvania’s General Fund. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies and local municipalities across the state.
