Ackert Backs Fee Relief for CT Bars and Restaurants

(Pictured above): Columbia’s Kitchen, located on 156 Rte 66 E in Columbia, CT opened its doors in December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HARTFORD — State Representative Tim Ackert (R-Coventry) is expressing his concern that as the state looks to loosen restrictions on the state’s bars and restaurants, many businesses still can’t keep up with the expenses incurred after operating at a limited capacity for months.

Ackert supports HB-5457, a proposal to temporarily suspend penalties and interest payments for late filing of permits, taxes and other fees.

Between installing plexiglass barriers, limiting table settings, and purchasing hand sanitizer and PPE, many business owners have been faithful to state guidelines at great cost to their operating budgets. Ackert, himself a small business owner, is concerned that without immediate financial relief, many establishments won’t be able to return to full capacity when their indoor capacity limits are lifted.

“This just makes sense. One of the recurring challenges with any business is keeping up with multiple permit, fee and tax deadlines that become overwhelming. Add to that the extra expenses associated with COVID and business owners are barely able to keep up. Small businesses have been the most impacted by the COVID pandemic and they continue to employ the majority of the state’s workforce. This is one of the steps we need to be taking to help keep those businesses alive and the jobs they create with them,” Ackert said.

Ackert had previously called for the suspension of fees associated with liquor and food permits in December 2020 as part of a broader movement of state legislators advocating for small business relief.

During a recent public hearing, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) offered their support for the bill, arguing that it could “directly assist these business owners during and recovering from the pandemic, sending a positive message that the state is able to provide for reasonable relief from added punitive costs under these unprecedented circumstances.”

The Governor recently announced that restaurants and bars can return to 100 percent indoor capacity on March 19^th, but with indoor social distancing requirements remaining in place, many establishments say they will be unable to return to pre-pandemic levels of business. “I understand that we’re trying to keep people safe, but you couldn’t buy enough plexiglass in the world to allow them to return to full capacity. Something else needs to be done,” Ackert concluded.

Following the public hearing, the Finance Committee has until April 2^nd to issue a Joint Favorable report on the bill and move it for a full vote in the House.

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