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Saturday, March 05, 2016

Commissioners To Stay Course On Phasing Out Liquor Operation

SNOW HILL – The head of the Worcester County Department of Liquor Control used an audience with local leaders this week to again share his concerns about the county’s plan to get out of the liquor business by 2017.

Bobby Cowger, head of the Worcester County Department of Liquor Control (DLC), told the county commissioners this week he thought extending the so-called exit strategy would reduce the financial hit the county is set to take.

“I’ve looked at this every way possible,” Cowger said. “With three years, we could gradually move inventory.”

Cowger made his pitch for a more gradual end for the department after presenting price cuts he plans to make to reduce inventory as 2017 nears. The county commissioners agreed last year that liquidating the department — ending wholesale operations in the fall of 2016 and ceasing retail sales by summer 2017 — was the best way to curtail the department’s growing losses.

“You guys have made the decision,” Cowger said. “The decisions you make are the decisions we move forward with. Trying to dissolve out is going to be difficult to do in the short period of this exit strategy.”

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay, Bobby, let me get this straight: You're running a business for decades and are losing money and are $2-$3 million in debt, and you think staying in business for 3 more years will get rid of that debt so you can go out of business at zero?

So, you didn't think of that plan in 2013?

And, if you can profit at a million a year, wouldn't that be a good reason to stay in business?

I think you have bumped your head! You lost it, now kiss it goodbye before we're $6 million in debt!

Anonymous said...

He just wants to hang on to his salary a little longer.

Anonymous said...

They haven't found county jobs for the LCB employees in the county yet, and the county hates to EVER have to lay off employees. They might actually have to reduce their budget (taxes) if they have to lay off any employees.