“It’s not about the alcohol. It’s about generating revenues for our community.” Laurie Cromwell Better Business for Hays committee member
by WES FERGUSON
A local group of civic and business leaders wants voters to decide whether bars and nightclubs should be allowed in Kyle and Buda.
The group — a political action committee called the Better Business for Hays Committee — is gathering signatures with hopes of forcing the ballot measure in 2012.
“I think it’s a no-brainer, quite frankly,” said Dick Schneider, a committee member and the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce director.
The group must obtain about 650 signatures from registered voters in Buda and 1,500 signatures from voters in Kyle to call the election.
Buda and Kyle currently allow limited sales of liquor, beer and wine in restaurants. Establishments that obtain a full liquor license may serve alcohol so long as less than half of their income is derived from alcohol sales.
That restriction is too prohibitive, according to Laurie Cromwell, a longtime Buda civic leader and a member of Better Business for Hays. Loosening the laws would help Buda and Kyle compete with Austin and San Marcos for business, she said.
“It’s not about the alcohol. It’s about generating revenue for our community,” Cromwell said. “We’ve seen a lot of opportunities that were lost because we didn’t have the full (ability) to attract certain businesses like microbreweries or high-end restaurants. This initiative will allow those to happen.”
Voters in Buda would also decide whether to allow liquor stores, which are already permitted in Kyle.
The group has hired Arlington-based Texas Petition Strategies to coordinate the petition. Cromwell said the group is about halfway toward its fundraising goal of $80,000 to pay for the petition and election campaign.
Update: Anyone wishing to join the Better Business for Hays Committee or wanting more information can contact John Hatch 512.295.9817. Contributions to support the effort can be sent to Better Business for Hays, P.O. Box 976, Buda, Texas 78610. (Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes.) At a later date, the group will be releasing a list of locations where the petitions can be signed.
