CHARLOTTE -- Just recently, in reference to recent Alcoholic Beverage Control system scandals, Gov. Bev Perdue said "Who would have thought this kind of stuff is going on?"
It's troubling that the governor, a former ABC board member herself and a 22-year veteran of state government, had no idea these problems existed. Even so, the governor has released statements saying that she would like to reform the ABC system by banning gifts to the 163 local ABC boards across the state, and she has installed a new alcohol chief at the state level. The governor's error is that she wants even more government influence to fix the state-run liquor business, when the government selling liquor is itself the problem.
Perdue and the state legislature should get North Carolina out of the liquor business entirely, by transferring the sale of liquor to the private sector.
It makes no sense, economically or morally, that we have public employees making exorbitant salaries by selling booze while we are struggling to keep teachers in the classrooms and have failing infrastructure across our state.
Over a year ago, when state leaders raised taxes during a recession, I recommended that we sell unneeded assets, including ABC properties. Better late than never. Perdue's own budget office has stated that the state could instantly make $700 million if we privatized the sale of liquor.
We can use this money to fund road construction fairly across North Carolina. These new road projects will instantly create jobs and get commuters to their place of employment more efficiently. I would also recommend that these funds be used for our underfunded mental health care system, with special emphasis on alcoholism treatment.
It's also important to know that local governments will not be adversely affected by the privatization of the liquor business. As a former mayor, I understand that local governments must have their revenues protected. Local governments should be able to keep fees from alcohol licensing and will also be able to collect property taxes from existing and new businesses that sell alcohol. We will also be able to move employees off the government payroll and into the private sector.
By getting cronyism out of the lucrative liquor business, North Carolina will be on the right path to rid itself of another aspect of the culture of corruption while focusing on long-term goals such as improving our failing infrastructure and the mental health system. I call on legislative leaders and the governor to quickly privatize the alcohol business, instead of recommending Band-Aid revisions to the status quo.
Pat McCrory recently left office after seven terms as mayor of Charlotte. In 2008, he was Democrat Bev Perdue's Republican opponent in the governor's race.
