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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Drinks & Taxes 2009 v2: Florida Mayor Pushes for Penny Tax on Drinks

Gulfport Mayor Michael Yakes is promoting a 1-cent tax on drinks served in bars and restaurants as a way to solve funding problems for city police departments across Florida.

Mayor Yakes is taking the proposal to city and county legislatures, hoping to get them to pressure state lawmakers to vote for the tax. Funds from the tax would go to community police departments and alcohol-related programs at the county and state level.

The declining economy is placing pressure of police, as well as treatment programs and public defender offices. Florida cities are looking for new ways to raise funds.

Yakes said the 1-cent tax on all on-premise alcohol sales would generate millions of dollars on a county level.

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