Elmhurst Fights To Stop Bars From Leaving

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst aldermen are voting Monday on whether to lower liquor license fees in a bid to keep bars from leaving Elmhurst.

According to a city memo, Elmhurst's license fees are a lot higher than those in comparable towns. Because of that, Elmhurst's business community asked the city to review its fees.

Over the last three years, 10 local establishments have either cancelled their licenses or requested payment plans, the memo said.

"With rising costs across the board, businesses have considered moving to other communities or closing," the memo said. "Losing the sales tax revenue from a business's departure may financially impact the City more than lowering the cost of liquor licenses."

The proposed fees are expected to reduce the city's annual income by $87,000.

Under the proposal, a bar that serves all types of alcohol would pay $4,000 a year, down from $5,500.