Villa Park board advances amended liquor‑license fee schedule after public outcry

The Village of Villa Park Board of Trustees voted on Oct. 13 to approve an amended schedule of liquor‑license fees recommended by the local Liquor Control Commission and to waive the ordinance's first reading so renewal letters can be issued to licensees. The discussion followed a lengthy public‑comment period in which several local business owners warned that proposed fee increases — in some cases several times a license’s current cost — would harm small operations.

Why it matters: The fees affect restaurants, bars and other licensees that contribute local sales, food‑and‑beverage and license revenue to the village. Business owners at the meeting said steep, rapid increases could force closures and reduce commercial diversity in Villa Park. The Liquor Control Commission and trustees said the changes aim to codify missed Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases dating to 2019 and to create a differential between licenses that include video gaming and those that do not.

Public concerns and business perspective Christine Murphy of 523 S. Yale Ave. said she opposed an across‑the‑board jump to later trick‑or‑treat hours and…