One referendum passes, another fails

BAYBORO, N.C. (WITN) – It will become more and more common to see customers sitting in a restaurant and ordering a mixed drink in Pamlico County.

75.6% of Pamlico County residents voted in favor of the Mixed Beverage Referendum, while 71.5% voted against the Local Sales and Use Tax Referendum after last week’s election.

Only a few cities such as Arapahoe, Oriental and Grantsboro were able to serve mixed drinks during their own city referendum.

Now, restaurants throughout Pamlico County will have the ability to do this after proper permitting, which excites one Alliance restaurant owner.

‘We’re done. A lot of customers come here and ask if we have margaritas and alcohol. Hopefully we will have it soon, if not this year next year,” said Sazon De Abuela restaurant owner Grisclda Vazquez.

Pamlico County Manager Tim Buck says this will allow all businesses across the county to be on the same playing field and generate more revenue.

Meanwhile, a majority of residents voted against a referendum to increase local sales and use taxes.

Buck says the local sales and use tax would have potentially generated $300,000 to $400,000 from visitors who don’t live in Pamlico County and would have gone to needed general funding such as schools, agencies and departments without the use of Ad Valorem taxes.

“It is clear that the inflationary consequences and their (schools, agencies, departments) need for additional funding are increasing. So we had to look at how we could continue to finance those things,” says Buck.

Buck says they have no plan to raise taxes, but voters may see the same referendum in the next general election.

Additionally, Buck says Pamlico County is in the early stages of deciding who will oversee and authorize the mixed drinks referendum, and he plans to speak with the sheriff’s office first.