Comment on Court lets Washington County join liquor tax suit

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Want mixed drink tax money for your schools? Get some “backbone” and try passing your own liquor-by-the drink referendum — instead of trying to “pluck” another locality’s long-established revenue stream.That was one comment after court Tuesday from a lawyer representing Johnson City in a lawsuit over that revenue.His adversary, representing Washington County and the Washington County Board of Education, told reporters county officials just want to make sure the liquor tax money is shared equitably among all students — whether they live in the city where the tax is collected or not.In addition to representing Johnson City in that suit — filed by the Washington County Board of Education nearly a year ago — Erick Herrin also represents the cities of Bristol, Tenn., and Kingsport in a similar suit filed jointly by the Sullivan County Commission and the Sullivan County Board of Education.Attorney Jim Logan is representing Washington County and the county BOE.In court Tuesday, Sullivan County Chancellor E.G.