(WDNG) – The administrator of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is defending the consolidation and closure of liquor stores. ABC Board Administrator Mac Gipson says the decision to close or consolidate 15 stores last month came after the state Legislature reduced the board’s spending authority.
Gipson says in a lengthy statement on Tuesday that his board’s decisions were similar to other state agencies’ decisions in order to make sure costs to not exceed spending. Gipson admits that some profitable stores were closed while other, less profitable stores remained open. He says closures based solely on profitability would have been unfair to rural residents.
State lawmakers in September cut more than $5.5 million from the ABC budget. No Calhoun County stores were affected by the consolidation plans. Gipson says his board does not cost taxpayers but is expected to generate $225 million to support the state General Fund, human resources, mental health, law enforcement, education, cities and counties.