First hurdle completed?
Group turns in petition, believes signatures will call for election
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

As reported first on jaspernewsboy.com Friday, Feb. 8, the Jasper Citizens for Better Business turned in a petition to the Jasper County Clerk's office with more than 500 signatures calling for a local option election on alcohol sales in the city.

The petition was turned in Friday, Feb. 8 and state law required the group gather approximately 450 city of Jasper residents' signatures.

If the signatures are verified, the two measures would be placed on the city's May election for voters to decide the issue.

"The issue of allowing adults the right to legally purchase beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores and eliminating the unicard in restaurants is about protecting and promoting our local economy," stated Committee Treasurer Joe Lopez, who owns Ta Mollie's Mexican Restaurant in Jasper. "We could not have finished this effort in the short time we did without the overwhelming support of the people of Jasper."

Lopez and John Matthew, a retired teacher, are listed as two board members of the Jasper Citizens for Better Business.

The two issues that might be at stake on the May ballot involved alcohol sales in the city limits of Jasper. One issue will allow the legal sale of beer and wine only in places like grocery and convenience stores and does not include liquor stores. The second issue will legalize alcohol sales in state recognized restaurants, thus eliminating the unicard or private club requirements.

"Grocery stores report for every $1 they lose in beer and wine sales they lose an additional $3 in general sales," stated Matthews. "Depending on size and location, this can be as much as $25,000 to $150,000 per week in additional sales. We have major grocery stores chains in Jasper and we need to keep that money here helping pay for our roads, law enforcement and fire departments."

Over 130 communities in Texas have voted on these same two laws, including citizens in Angelina, Polk, Houston and Hardin counties. According to tax records compiled by the Texas Comptroller of public accounts, cities that voted to allow beer/wine sales and restaurant sales have seen an average increase of nearly 29 percent in sales tax revenue.

"It costs restaurants $3,000 to $20,000 per year to be a private club - money just to comply with bureaucratic red tape," Lopez stated. "That money doesn't create one-penny in sales or property tax revenue for our city or county nor one job. People talk about wanting to bring more restaurants to Jasper. By passing this law we get rid of this government red tape and make it easier to recruit national chain restaurants."

The Texas Legislature created a version of the alcohol sales laws so communities like Jasper can allow restaurants to serve alcohol, without guests having to first join a private club.

"This is an economic and safety issue as well," stated Matthews. "Studies show since the law changed in 2003, the State of Texas has gained nearly two million more people and the number of communities approving alcohol sales has increased by over 130. According to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, the number of alcohol related fatalities has dropped over seven percent during this time- while the national rate was going up. But you don't need a study to prove common sense, when you shorten the distance people have to drive to purchase alcohol, you decrease the number of alcohol fatalities."

The Jasper Citizens for Better Business hired Texas Petition Strategies (TPS), a consulting firm based in Arlington and Austin to assist them in conducting the petition drive and election.

"We have helped cities all over Texas change this law to bring in additional sales tax revenue. In fact, some of the cities we helped have now generated millions of dollars in local sales tax- money that was going to some other town or city. They have now raised millions of dollars, without having to raise local property taxes," stated Texas Petition Strategies Partner, John Hatch.