Why Are They Asking For Yearly Fees For Restaurants/Bars?

Before I show this press release allow me to share something none of you know.

While under a State of Emergency, fees are held back until the emergency is over. Take the liquor board for example. There have been no fees for a liquor license since last year. The Health Department called me yesterday asking for their annual fees and I expressed how unfair it is that they would charge any bar or restaurant for any such fees while reducing our businesses down to next to nothing. I went on to explain how the Worcester County Liquor Board hasn’t charged such fees, NOR had I received any such invoice from the county, since they claimed we were late with our alleged fees for this year. They stated the liquor board was part of the STATE AND how there was a glitch in their system and no one received an invoice this year. . I replied, you are in the state/county, what’s the difference. Nevertheless, we reluctantly sent out a payment yesterday and moments ago I received the following press release from the Governor. Seems to me each Health Department is doing just fine. Will the Governor be sending funds to support the Liquor Boards too?

Governor Hogan Announces $123 Million in Additional Funding for Local Health Departments

Funding Will Help Ensure Focus on Equitable Access and Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced more than $123.2 million in funding to support Maryland’s local health departments, including resources for ongoing COVID-19 vaccination activities. The governor’s office briefed county leaders on the funding announcement earlier this afternoon.

“As the state begins mass vaccination, and continues to expand the distribution network of vaccinators, county health departments will play a critical role in our focus on hard-to-reach areas and underserved populations,” said Governor Hogan. “I want to thank and extend my appreciation to all of the vaccinators who are working around the clock to serve the community.”

Today’s announcement comes one day before the state opens its first two mass vaccination sites: Six Flags America in Prince George’s County and the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital in Baltimore City. The 24 local health departments are part of an expanding distribution network that now includes more than 110 active providers listed on covidvax.maryland.gov.

COVID-19 Vaccination Funding. This funding for COVID-19 vaccination activities will be awarded to each jurisdiction based on their populations in proportion to Maryland’s total population. The awards will be made on a reimbursable basis with oversight by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). To the extent that local health departments do not spend their allocations, the state may recover the remaining funds to use for its own vaccination spending.

Support to Address Budget Shortfalls. In addition, the administration will submit a supplemental budget request to the General Assembly that supports county health departments for deficits related to closing their self-supported fee-for-service clinics. If this funding is approved, MDH will award the funding as a grant to the local health departments where they will be required to substantiate their deficits.

Maryland providers have administered 601,914 COVID-19 vaccines, and 73.9% of all first doses received from the federal government have been given. The average daily rate of shots administered is 21,714—a 64% increase over the last two weeks. Read today’s vaccine update.