Lots of questions that must be answered in a short amount of time.
Those answers will have consequences for years to come. Basic things, like when and where you buy booze, and for how much.
Leaders in Murray, Kentucky met to discuss those issues and a lot more.  And they have to make a decision on all those things before anyone can apply for the 15 liquor licenses up for grabs.

The city decides when stores will open, where they'll open, and how much to tax each drink.  The local taxes are the 600-thousand dollar question, at least that's how much a city with a similar population gets from alcohol sales each year.  Problem is Murray leaders can't agree on what the local tax should be.

The city decides when stores will open and close, where they'll open, and how much to tax each drink.  The local taxes are the 600-thousand dollar question, at least that's how much a city with a similar population gets from alcohol sales each year.  Problem is Murray leaders can't agree on what the local tax should be.

When there's a lot of money at stake it's not easy to get people to agree.   Murray finance committee board members just started and City Clerk Harla McClure says they're already running out of time.  

"They each have their own point of view but then in the end they'll come together for what's best in the community," McClure said.

It's not just taxes dividing this group, but time.  Specifically, regulating hours of operation.   Jason Pittman says he doesn't want Murray customers to go to other areas, where bars stay open later.

The city clerk says people interested in a liquor license need to do, on September 20th the state will put ads in the paper with instructions for people who are interested in setting up shop.

McClure said Kroger already expressed an interest in alcohol sales, only time will tell who else wants to open a bar or liquor store in Murray, Kentucky.  

First this city has a lot of work to do.
The clerk said it will likely be January before packaged stores and bars open.  She said licenses for beer will likely be approved first.

State law requires that the money generated from the local tax go toward establishing a local alcoholic beverage control office, adding to the police force, and a school resource officer.