Liquor License Fees Could Increase Under New Tinley Park Proposal

TINLEY PARK, IL — A possible increase in Tinley Park liquor license fees will be up for a vote at next month's Village Board Meeting, members decided Tuesday.

While license fees could nearly double, village officials said the bump would put Tinley Park businesses back on track to match liquor license fees from surrounding areas — even keeping them on the lower end.

"Ideally, fees should be incrementally increased over time to keep up with associated costs and to stay in line with other communities," Assistant Village Manager Hannah Lipman wrote in an email. "Unfortunately that just hasn't been the case."

Lipman said the village's liquor code and fee structure hasn't been updated in over a decade. While fees could increase for traditional bars and restaurants that serve liquor, church organizations and clubs such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War would see their annual fees remain the same.

In comparison, a liquor license for a hotel bar in Oak Lawn currently costs an initial $6,250, with an annual fee of about $3,187. In Tinley Park, hotels are charged $400 for a liquor license. Lipman said the increase would take administrative costs into account while still trying to keep the village "as business friendly as possible."

The proposed change comes as the village recently reduced annual video gaming fees for establishments that carry gaming terminals. Now, businesses will only have to pay $600 per gaming machine as opposed to the previous $1,000. Clubs and non-profits had their gaming fees lowered even more. This would help offset some of the fees should the new liquor license structure pass, Lipman said.

While the village has not released specific dollar amounts under the proposed plan, Lipman said fees for most of the 100 establishments that hold liquor licenses will only increase by a few hundred dollars.

"We don't expect [businesses] to be thrilled about the increases by any means," Lipman told Patch. "But we don't think the increases are overly burdensome, otherwise we wouldn't be comfortable recommending them."

The updated licensing and fee structure will go in front of the Village Board at their next meeting on Dec. 7.