Local

Liquor stores will be on the ballot for voters in Burleson this election

Ballots in Burleson will ask voters whether liquor stores will be allowed in the city limits. In this file photo, a Liquor King store opened in Monticello, Ky. after residents voted to allow legal alcohol sales in 2020.
Ballots in Burleson will ask voters whether liquor stores will be allowed in the city limits. In this file photo, a Liquor King store opened in Monticello, Ky. after residents voted to allow legal alcohol sales in 2020. rhermens@herald-leader.com

Voters in Burleson will decide this election whether to allow liquor stores in the city.

The city of 50,000 residents south of Fort Worth currently allows beer and wine sales in grocery and convenience stores.

The election is Nov. 5, and early voting starts Oct. 21.

John Hatch, president of Texas Petition Strategies in Buda, said Chad Johnson, who owns Margaritas to Go, wants to open a liquor store in Burleson, and contacted his company to manage a petition drive that resulted in signatures from over 5,800 registered voters.

Johnson did not return phone calls from the Star-Telegram seeking comment.

If approved, estimates from an economic study from the Perryman Group show that Burleson would generate approximately $253,961 in sales tax revenue annually and would see 114 new jobs.

If the local option passes, Burleson would be the largest city in Johnson County with liquor stores. Cities including Rio Vista, Cresson, Alvarado and Venus already allow package stores, Hatch said.

Hatch said he anticipates a higher voter turnout because of the presidential election, and encouraged voters to read the ballot carefully because the alcohol sales option is the last item.

Elizabeth Campbell
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
With my guide dog Freddie, I keep tabs on growth, economic development and other issues in Northeast Tarrant cities and other communities near Fort Worth. I’ve been a reporter at the Star-Telegram for 34 years.
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