I had not heard much about the upcoming election regarding beer and wine sales in Italy until a couple of weeks ago. Now, that is just about all I am hearing. After much soul searching and some research, I knew how I wanted to vote on all the issues, not just the local beer and wine sales issue. I exercised my right to vote when I voted early.

I do not pretend to have all the answers. I don’t think anyone does. I also don’t think anyone can predict what the increase in sales taxes will be if the issue passes and businesses here sell beer and wine.

When the new businesses opened out by the interstate, I was elated to have somewhere I could buy milk or whatever 24 hours per day. It was also nice to have additional options for eating out. I welcomed and supported them then as I do now. I remember hearing at a city council meeting when these businesses were being approved that our sales tax base would increase which would give us added revenue for streets and other things we needed.

The sales taxes have increased to over $250,000 per year. This is a good thing. I am now trying to decide if our city services and streets have improved since the new businesses have come. The jury is still out on that one. I love Italy and am proud to tell anyone where I hail from. Born and raised here, Italy is special along with the people that make here what she is – the biggest little town in Texas and as far as I am concerned, the best little town in Texas.

Now, that brings me to the current issue of beer and wine sales. I don’t want anyone telling me how to vote nor would I ever tell someone else how to vote. I do, however, want to address a couple of issues. First of all, some of us are wondering why the people that are responsible for the petition and election regarding beer and wine sales are not letting John Q. Public know who they are and what stake they have in this.

The reason that I am writing this is the phone call that was made to my house several days ago and the information that was contained in the call. I was not at home so the message was left on my answering machine. I was so thankful it happened that way so I could listen to it as many times as needed to fully understand the claims that were made. It went something like this:

Italy Citizens – I am calling to ask you to vote for beer and wine sales in Italy. It went on to say that grocery stores report that for every dollar they lose in beer and wine sales, they will lose three dollars in general sales which could be $25,000 to $150,000 in sales per week. Because our residents do not shop here in Italy, we lose $2.6 million in annual sales and $60,000 in local tax revenue which is over 20% of our annual revenue.

When I first listened to the message I thought I heard the information wrong. I listened to it several times to make sure I understood the claims she was making. Then it began to soak in – those responsible for the phone call thought I was very gullible and that they could make any claims and I would just believe them even if they were not true.

First of all, I cannot imagine a town the size of Italy losing $2.6 million in taxable revenue. That must be challenged. If Italy is going to do $2.6 million in additional taxable sales, people are going to have to buy a lot of beer and wine or toilet paper and cleaning supplies I must say. I know that a lot of what I buy at David’s Supermarket is non-taxable. No one pays sales tax on any items in the frozen section, dairy section, meat market, produce section, cereal aisle or deli section. So, in all actuality, if David’s sold beer and wine and someone went there to buy it along with a gallon of milk, dozen eggs, ground beef and cereal, the only sales tax collected would be on the beer or wine.

My second point is this. If this passes and we do have an increase in sales tax revenue, does that mean our streets will improve, our water improve or our city services improve? I don’t have the answer for that. Having more money means just that – having more money to spend. It does not mean that things will improve. Have the streets improved since our sales tax increased? Is the water better since our sales tax increased? Do we have a cleaner town since our sales tax increased? You be the judge.

I think in all actuality those that will sell the beer and wine will be the ones that benefit from the sale of it, not the rest of Italy. And of course, this is my opinion.

I remember when my cousin, Oneta Hamby was killed by a drunk driver. I wonder if the alcohol had not been so readily available if she would still be with us. Only God knows. I understand the increase in sales tax could come in really handy in this day and time, but I also understand you cannot put a price on human life. Ask any of us in Oneta’s family. They will tell you really quickly you cannot.

I hope all of our registered voters will vote. I also hope they will study all the issues and decide what would be better for our town. I know whether or not we sell beer and wine there will be drunk drivers. I just don’t want our town to be responsible for giving them the loaded weapon.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving can give you the statistics for the hidden costs of alcohol problems like $184 billion per year in health care, criminal justice, social services, property damage and loss of productivity expenses.

I hope everyone, no matter how they plan to vote, will vote. After all, if we do not exercise our rights, there may come a day when our rights might just be taken away.