WCLCB – Will Privatization Cost County Taxpayers Money?

July 9, 2008 by Cato  
Filed under Maryland, Maryland Politics, Media, Wicomico Politics

That seems to be the $64,000 question; or according to the Daily Times – the $288,000 question. The answer is almost assuredly – NO!

My only quarrel with this morning’s well researched piece by Greg Latshaw is the title – “Privatizing liquor would cost $288K“. As Latshaw addresses in the article, increased licensing fees and/or other taxes would more than make up for the loss of the annual dispensary contribution to county coffers. Drinkers would still receive lower prices and better selection from a privatized system.

The Daily Times editorial page is on record as supporting, if somewhat softly, privatization. The paper’s coverage of the issue has been fairly well balanced. Why, then, did the news editors pick such a misleading headline?

I can’t even speculate. However, we shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth given the above average coverage of the issue to date.