Liquor license reform among legislative goals for Kalispell chamber

Revamping Montana’s liquor licensing system ranked high among the goals discussed at the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s legislative priorities luncheon Tuesday.

The event focused on a wide range of topics that may come before the Legislature this session, including tax relief, workforce housing and child care accessibility, as well as reforms to the state’s liquor licensing system, which dates back to the Prohibition era.

Addressing a conference center packed with local business owners and representatives, chamber President Lorraine Clarno opened the luncheon by announcing organization representatives recently met with nine of the 11 members of the Flathead delegation in the statehouse in Helena. Clarno sounded optimistic about the session and said that the lengthy meeting with local representatives boded well for the chamber’s priorities.

“It went well,” Clarno said. “Looks like we’re going to see a pro-business agenda.”

Erica Wirtala, public affairs director for the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors, said that the chamber would oppose any attempt to reduce or redistribute lodging tax proceeds. She indicated the chamber’s support for Gov. Greg Gianforte’s proposed tax cuts and rebates, as well as liquor license reform.

Reps. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, and Tony Brockman, R-Kalispell, offered their thoughts to the luncheon’s attendees via video conference from Helena. The pair took questions about progress in changing the state’s Prohibition-era liquor licensing system, which has presented challenges to bar and restaurant owners looking to set up shop in Kalispell and Flathead County.

There is a quota on the number of licenses available, driving the prices of permits up to $1 million in some cases, according to Pam Carbonari, executive director of the Kalispell Downtown Association, which represents businesses in the city center. Carbonari said the limits benefit chains, which can afford the price tag, at the cost of local and small businesses.

In a related issue, Carbonari wants to see loosened restrictions on breweries and distilleries, which are currently limited in the number of drinks they can serve and must close by 8 pm.

Carbonari would like to see legislation that eliminates the quota, and asked Sprunger and Brockman about the latest developments in Helena.

“It’s going to be a big lift, but we’re moving in the right direction,” said Brockman.

Sprunger mentioned that legislation is in the works that would allow for businesses to rent licenses from owners in an effort to bring down the costs, though it would not expand or end the quota system.

CHAMBER BOARD Chair Tagen Vine brought up C-PACE, a financing program aimed at helping business owners install energy saving improvements to their buildings at no upfront cost to them, in his remarks.

The program went into effect statewide last year. Although Kalispell City Council has moved forward with setting up a C-PACE district, county commissioners have ignored the Flathead business community’s growing push for countywide adoption of the program. Late last year, the chamber delivered a petition supporting C-PACE to commissioners, though it failed to persuade any member of the three-person commission.

Vine urged businesses to contact the commissioners directly. Each place setting at the luncheon included a card with the contact information of each commissioner and County Administrator Pete Melnick.

“Reach out and share your thoughts,” Vine said to the attendees. “We have already advocated on your behalf.”

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.