Hamilton City Council proposes fairer alcohol licensing fees for 2025

Hamilton City Council is proposing fairer alcohol licensing fees to ease the burden on ratepayers. Photo / Hamilton City Council

Hamiltonians are being asked for feedback on a proposal addressing a “financial imbalance” in alcohol licensing costs.

The proposal intends to “ease ratepayer burden” with fairer alcohol licensing fees.

The fees currently set by Hamilton City Council (HCC) haven’t increased in over 11 years and don’t cover the full costs of licensing activities.

As a result, ratepayers have been subsidising these costs by up to 29%. That’s expected to grow year-on-year.

The council is now proposing the introduction of an Alcohol Fees Bylaw that would reduce the ratepayer subsidy to 5%.

The proposed bylaw seeks to increase the fees by 34% in 2025/26, 20% in 2026/27, and 3% annually thereafter.

Along with bringing the changes in line with the actual costs and inflation, the draft bylaw includes additional resources needed to manage demand from 2026/27.

HCC is asking for feedback about reducing the ratepayer “top-up” needed to cover the costs of alcohol licensing, and council regulatory services manager Cory Lang said ratepayers “shouldn’t have to top up the costs of alcohol licensing as much as they are now”.

“Introducing the bylaw would ensure those who use the alcohol licensing services contribute an appropriate share of the costs of licensing, education, monitoring and enforcement,” said Lang.

He said the proposal is about “financial sustainability” and will move closer to a user-pays system, and the bylaw is a “necessary measure”, with cost increases expected from inflation and increased licensing activities.

“This is ... to ensure that the council can continue to provide essential services without as much reliance on the ratepayer to top up the costs.”

The proposed bylaw is “the only way [the] council can change alcohol licensing fees”, and Hamiltonians and impacted businesses are encouraged to have their say.

Public consultation on the Draft Alcohol Fees Bylaw is open until February 25 this year.

For more information or to have your say, visit the council’s website or the link here.