By Jeff Aydelette

ALLIANCE / REELSBORO – Officials with the Pamlico County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board said Tuesday that regular annual audits, revenues from just two stores, and a conservative financial philosophy yield modest administrative salaries that pale in comparison to those paid in bigger counties and municipalities.
Robbie Sadler, chairman of the local ABC board, and Sheila Martin, supervisor of the Alliance and Reelsboro stores, could only chuckle when they heard from a reporter that Martin’s counterparts in seven other jurisdictions routinely earn six-digit salaries.
“There are always going to be some bad apples,” said Sadler, “but fortunately I can tell you that we have none here.”
North Carolina remains among a half-dozen states in which government controls liquor sales and policies. Across the state, 163 local Alcoholic Beverage Control boards set their own employee salaries, although liquor prices are identical.
In Pamlico County, the ABC sales force includes four full-time clerks, occasional part-time staffers, and Martin who left law enforcement in December 1997 to come on board. A certified audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, confirmed that total salaries for both stores and all related expenses in Pamlico were just a fraction of the compensation paid to a single top administrator with New Hanover County’s liquor operations.
There, Billy Williams, earned $244,760 for the most recent reporting period, and his son, Bradley, who serves as Assistant Administrator, received compensation of $127,000.
“As you can see, we live very frugally here,” said Martin, pointing to the back room of the Alliance store where stacked liquor cartons allow little room to maneuver.
Sadler nodded in agreement, noting that he and his two board colleagues, Maurice Benton and Harvey Daniels – all appointed by the county commissioners – routinely squeeze into Martin’s cubicle-like office for a monthly meeting, which always falls on the fourth Monday night.
Gross annual revenue for the Alliance store is almost double that of Reelsboro. Total combined sales for the most recent year came in at $1.1 million, down less than $2,000 from the previous year in spite of the lackluster economy. However, net income declined to $58,533, or 5.26 percent of sales, due to higher store expenses.
Each year, approximately 20 percent of total sales revenue is remitted to the state’s coffers in the form excise taxes. Part of the $200,000-plus comes from the county’s five restaurants that possess liquor by the drink permits.
All located in Oriental, these restaurants must buy their booze from the Alliance store, where a ‘mixed beverage tax’ of $3.75 applies for every ‘fifth’ sold.
State law requires all net income be paid to the county, after deducting a required contribution to local law enforcement ($1,302 for 08-09), to alcohol education efforts ($1,823 for 08-09), and to working capital ($10,000).
The figure paid to Pamlico County for the most recent year was $46,060, which helps to offset the burden of property taxes.
With 3,785 milliliters in a gallon, most ‘fifths’ measure precisely 750 milliliters, just a shade less than a true one-fifth. Martin says the most popular liquor in Pamlico County is vodka. The best selling brand is Burnette’s Vodka, which comes in a variety of flavors. The $8.25 price tag ‘per fifth’ is mid-range pricing.
Several aisles over, at the front of the store, customers sometimes gawk at the Hennessy XO Cognac. The beverage may not be for everyone on your shopping list. It is the highest priced item in the store at $181.95 per fifth.
Martin and her staff keep a close eye on all customers to ensure that those who plan to imbibe leave the store cognizant and clear-headed enough to get home safely.
“We are not supposed to sell to anyone who may be under the influence,” she explained “and sometimes we have refused. For the most part, our customers are in a good mood when then come in. If not, they’re getting ready to be in a good mood,” she joked.
By far the busiest day of the year is Christmas Eve, when the veteran supervisor brings in extra staff to help out in both stores.
“But get here early that day,” laughs Martin. “We plan to close at 5 p.m.”