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Solobay proposes changes in distributing slots revenue
Staff writer
A Washington County legislator is formulating a proposal to change the way the local share of slots revenue is distributed, including the possibility of annual six-figure allocations for two communities closest to The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
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"We're not opening up the bill, we're not changing the bill," that legalized slots, Solobay said. "There is discontent that came about through the process that was utilized this year."
The casino opened June 9, and the county just completed a process, announced in November, to distribute what's known as the local share. Depending on the cut-off date, the county will be receiving at least $8 million in slots revenue this year.
Other communities around North Strabane, which receives its own share of the slots money as the casino's host community, also would benefit if Solobay's idea goes into effect.
Cecil, Peters and Somerset townships, plus Canonsburg, Houston and Washington could each receive $100,000 yearly. Although Washington does not border North Strabane, as do the other municipalities, Solobay said social services that would be likely to help wayward or stranded gamblers are based there.
Solobay also would like to see $75,000 given to all other municipalities in the county yearly starting next year.
The annual payments to all the municipalities would total just over $6 million under Solobay's proposal. He said this still would leave a substantial chunk of money that communities and agencies could request for special projects, as local slots revenue is expected to be as much as $12 million to $15 million next year.
Solobay wants to see slots revenue in the communities earmarked for projects related to the casino, such as public safety, water lines, sewers or social services.
Although the law governing the use of slots revenue in third-class counties gives priority to contiguous communities, the rules for fourth-class counties like Washington didn't specify that.
"The law does not preclude us from considering that," Solobay said Wednesday. "It's as broad as it is long."
In recent recommendations to allocate slots revenue from the local share committee of the Washington County Economic Development Roundtable, Chartiers requested $2.8 million for a sewage interceptor and received $40,000. South Strabane requested money from the local share account for safer and more efficient movement of traffic on Racetrack Road and the Zediker Station sewer and water project but received none.
Solobay emphasized that his proposal is in the "trial balloon" stage, and it would have no effect on the list of approximately $8 million worth of projects, whittled down from $88 million worth of requests, that the Washington County commissioners are forwarding to the state Department of Community and Economic Development for final approval.
But if there's extra revenue in the pot, "I would still like to find a means of funding South Strabane and Chartiers," Solobay said.
State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, who was the Washington County legislative delegation's appointee to the local share committee, was elected after the law legalizing slot machines in Pennsylvania was passed.
He plans a series of four public meetings, the first one in Chartiers Township at a date yet to be determined, to discuss use of future slots revenue.
Both Solobay and White support adding or substituting a local representation to the local share committee, which recommended funding seven proposals advanced by six committee members, including the three largest projects for Southpointe II infrastructure, Alta Vista Business Park and Starpointe Business Park expansion totaling $3.7 million.
"We're going to be focused on next year, not last year," White said. "We're not endorsing any idea until we know it's going to be legal through the DCED."
White said he plans to invite the commissioners and members of the local share committee to the meetings, then, after compiling a proposal approved by DCED, submit a written report to the county commissioners.
Commission Chairman Larry Maggi and Vice Chairman Bracken Burns have said they see no reason to change the process already in place, but Commissioner Diana L. Irey said she would be open to suggestions on adding local officials to the share committee.
