Pa. Liquor Control Board sees record $3.02B income

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The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) today released unaudited financial results for fiscal year 2021-22 that reflect record net income and the first time gross wine and spirits sales topped $3 billion. 

 Sales in the most recently completed fiscal year totaled $3.02 billion (including liquor and sales taxes), $109.9 million or 3.8% more than the prior year. This resulted in net income for the year totaling a record $330.9 million, which was $66 million or 25% higher than the prior fiscal year. The increase in net income was due to decreased overall operating expenses and reductions in long-term liabilities. 

Contributions to state and local governments and other beneficiaries totaled $839.3 million for the fiscal year. 

 Contributions to the General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania’s schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services, totaled more than $786 million. General Fund contributions consisted of the following: 

• $431.3 million in liquor tax; 
• $169.7 million in state sales tax; and 
• $185.1 million in cash transfers. 

 Other PLCB contributions over the course of the fiscal year included the following: 

• $30.7 million to the Pennsylvania State Police for liquor control enforcement efforts; 
• $10.7 million in local sales taxes to Philadelphia and Allegheny counties; 
• $2.7 million in licensing fees returned to local municipalities; and 
• $6.6 million to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. 

 Additionally, the PLCB authorized about $2 million in grants in fiscal year 2021-22 in support of Pennsylvania’s beer and wine industries and awarded nearly $1.4 million in alcohol education grants during the year to reduce underage and dangerous drinking. 

The PLCB is the only commonwealth enterprise fund whose financials are separately reported in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Fiscal Year 2021-22 ran from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.