Common Council Approves Local Tobacco Retail License Fee

During Tuesday evenings Common Council meeting, the council voted to implement a local tobacco retail license fee; Councilpersons Beckwith, Michales, and Thompson were absent. This new fee is an addition to the tobacco law the city passed last year. Mayor Steve noted the original law did not include a fee into the law.

The tobacco retail license fee will be $150 and will be an annual due from licensed tobacco retail establishments within the City of Cortland. The fee is also required for any application for a tobacco retail license from the city. Councilperson Carpenter asked Mayor Steve where the $150 amount came from and if it could be higher. Mayor Steve says the amount of the fee was based off of similar fees, but added the city can increase it in the future.

The City of Cortland last year implemented laws to restrict new retail establishments of tobacco products that would be within 1,000 feet of a school or a youth oriented facility such as the Youth Bureau, YMCA, or park.