The following article appeared in the December 28 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
At least two downtown bar owners say they pay enough tax and don’t think the city should impose a “bar-stool levy” as a way to recover costs associated with late-night policing and garbage collection.
Mike Hauser, who owns Doogie’s and Pablo’s, said bar owners do their part by cleaning up in front of their own businesses and it’s the city’s responsibility to handle security and cleanup of the rest of downtown.
“As small-business owners, we contribute enough already,” he said.
The debate has been sparked by a city council resolution for city staff to report back on how to recover costs associated with downtown policing and waste collection. Last week the city delayed that staff recommendation until March, which means the savings won’t be reflected in the 2008 budget. A staff report pegged the costs of downtown security and maintenance at about $400,000.
Councillor Bob Bell said he was disappointed with the deferral and thinks something needs to be done soon.
“We’re trying to move away from the rowdiness that occurs late at nights on the weekend,” he said, explaining it inhibits residential growth and the look of the downtown.
He supports introducing a levy on business licences that would be based on the closing time of the bar and the number of seats in the establishment. He said bar owners could pass the costs on to patrons by introducing a surcharge on drinks after midnight, for example.
“I understand the bar owners don’t want to pay for the cleanup and extra policing but they’re the only ones who can control the extent to which we have to police their patrons,” he said.
But the staff report questioned the ease of developing a tax that is fair and equitable to downtown businesses.
“Suggestions have been made that only those establishments that are open after midnight should be subject to a special fee,” the report said. “However, this is problematic as it has been difficult to identify, with any degree of certainty, which business establishments are contributing to the current situation.”
Coun. Ian Findlay, who represents council on the Downtown Nightlife Task Force, said there may be other means to help mitigate current problems.
One suggestion is for the city to install more garbage cans downtown to discourage late-night visitors from littering. Another suggestion is to install 24-hour restrooms either as standalone units or in upcoming capital projects such as the new Carden Street transit hub or the Baker Street library.
“Certainly the idea of a bar-stool tax makes for not huge support from any of the bar owners,” he said. “Hopefully we can resolve problems by other means.”
Bob Dehu, who owns Trappers Alley, Bobby O’Briens and Palace, said between municipal, provincial and federal taxes, he’s paying enough. He thinks the responsibility for cleanup costs shouldn’t be pinned on bar owners.
“What’s a fair allocation? I’ve heard it said before that big bars should pay,” he said. “This industry has been hit hard enough in the last few years as it is with changes to the smoking bylaw and changes to the double cohort (of students at colleges and universities).”