Melrose Council Adopts 2021 Budget, Slashes Bar License Fees to $10

MELROSE — December 17, 2020 — Melrose City Council adopted a $2.9 million general fund budget and cut liquor license fees to $10 for pandemic-affected bars at its December 17 meeting. The council set a 2021 total levy of $1,490,000 — a $110,000 increase over 2020 — but held the effective tax rate increase to roughly 1.45 percent, aided by growth in the city's tax capacity from new construction and properties returning from tax-increment financing. Finance staff projected a roughly $81,000 general fund deficit for 2021, attributing it largely to a conservative estimate of local government aid that discounted the certified amount by 20 percent, anticipating a potential $156,000 reduction. The council voted unanimously to reduce 2021 on-sale and Sunday on-sale liquor license fees — normally approximately $1,700 — to a $10 administrative processing fee for any business licensed in 2020, with one member arguing that "they've been getting spanked pretty hard" while prohibited from indoor dining through at least January 11, 2021.