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Officials at odds over slots money
Staff writer
State legislators made a case Tuesday to change the way Washington County distributes the local share of slot-machine revenues from The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
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The legislators' proposal will not take effect if two county leaders have their way. County Commission Chairman Larry Maggi and Commissioner Diana Irey favor using the local share to reduce county taxes for each property owner by 47 percent.
Maggi called his counterproposal "an economic stimulus program for Washington County."
The 2004 law legalizing slot-machine gaming in Pennsylvania calls for counties the size of Washington to use the money, estimated at $12 million next year, for "economic development projects, community improvement projects, job training, other projects in the public interest and reasonable administrative costs."
Maggi, however, focused on a paragraph that states, "Nothing ... shall prevent any of the above counties which directly receive a distribution ... from entering into intergovernmental cooperative agreements with other jurisdictions for sharing this money."
The "intergovernmental cooperative agreement" would be between Washington County and the Department of Community and Economic Development, which holds a special account for the county's local share and has the final say in distribution of the money. The fund totaled just over $8 million from June 2007, when the casino opened, to March 31 of this year. That money was allocated to 25 community development projects announced in late June.
Kevin Ortiz, spokesman for DCED in Harrisburg, could not immediately be reached for comment on Maggi's proposal.
The commission chairman turned the tables on the legislators, saying, "The Legislature has been promising tax relief for years and not delivering."
Washington County's tax levy is 21.4 mills, and Maggi's proposal would cut property taxes by nine mills, with the slots money filling the gap in the general fund.
Irey, who left for an appointment after spending about 20 minutes with the legislators, was reached after the nearly two-hour meeting. She said she would like to see the issue reconsidered in the Legislature or placed on the ballot as a referendum question.
"What we hear from everybody is how they're so taxed," Irey said, citing record-high gasoline prices and skyrocketing grocery bills. "People need some sort of relief. If this is an opportunity to provide relief to the taxpayers, I think it's an opportunity we should take advantage of."
Commission Vice Chairman Bracken Burns, reached by phone later Tuesday, said, "I think the political pandering got a little carried away today. People were outpandering each other.
"What about a check for $1 million to every voter in Washington County? If you can't pick up on the sarcasm, then I could spell it out for you. The law was, to me, clear and well crafted. Let's take this money, and let's create jobs and economic development.
"We took the professionals in the economic development community, and we put them around the table and said, 'Do your job.' Except for criticism from the news media, I think we did a pretty good job."
Burns also said the DCED lauded the county's process and wished every county in Pennsylvania would follow Washington County's lead.
"Fast-forward, and we're called on the carpet by the legislators who wrote the law? I don't get it," Burns said.
Presenting the legislative delegation's proposal was State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, who was appointed by his peers to serve on the local share committee. The legislators have devised what they called the Hometown Project Fund.
White said municipalities, in a series of public meetings held last spring around the county, expressed concern about being unable to compete with large economic development projects.
"With many, if not most, municipalities planning on applying for funds in 2008, the potential for even greater discontent is clear," White said Tuesday.
The Hometown Project Fund would grant $235,152 to Peters Township, Washington County's largest municipality with 19,927 residents, according to the most recent census data. Washington would receive $182,107, and Canonsburg would get $121,024.
Tiny Green Hills Borough would receive $30,477, while little West Alexander and West Middletown boroughs would be limited to 50 percent of their budgets, both in the $30,000 range.
The legislators also recommended that members of the township supervisors' association and boroughs association choose representatives to the local share committee.
"Based on the large role they play both as an applicant and in an administrative capacity, we strongly recommend that the Washington County Redevelopment Authority no longer be represented on the local share review panel in determining which applicants are to be funded," the legislators wrote in their proposal.
State Rep. David Levdansky, D-Elizabeth, raised the issue of the appearance of conflict of interest, asking, "Isn't it like someone grading their own work?"
Burns objected, saying, "These are people of integrity. I find it a bit insulting to their professionalism."
White said the legislators had met with representatives from DCED who gave their blessing to the delegation's proposal.
slots money : 8/13/2008
When Pennsylvania voters approved having casinos it was with the understanding that the money would go to lowering taxes. Period. Now we have a bunch of so-called representatives of the people fighting to allow another bunch of low-level bureaucrats take over a major portion of that money to create projects to justify their existence. And the taxpayers get shafted again.
Not true : 8/13/2008
If you've followed any of this, it is clear that the local money from the meadows is NOT for tax relief- that's what the statewide money is for. If the Commissioners were so gung ho about property tax relief, why didn't they do it last year instead of giving millions to their economic development buddies? Maggi and Irey just don't want anyone touching their pile of money, especially towns that actually need it. It seemed like they were just mad that the representatives actually had a good idea.
joke : 8/13/2008
So our commissioners think the best idea is to basically give themselves the money? There's a shock.
slots money : 8/13/2008
I would rather see the property owners get the break than more of the "back room" deals that have been a part of the entire slots process.
Lower Taxes : 8/13/2008
It was my understanding that the money generated from the casino was to help lower taxes in the townships and boroughs in the surrounding area, not to grease the palms of money hungry representatives and bureaucrats. Sad part about this, most of us voted these slimy thieves into office.
slot money : 8/13/2008
I for one am sick of Bracken Burns sarcasm. If he would use less of it and actually listen to the people that voted him into office, he would have a better chance at the next election. Too late. From the beginning, the taxpayers were promised tax relief. that promise should be kept by the Governor and the County share should be distributed to the local municipalities.
people don't understand : 8/13/2008
what is it going to take to get you yinzers to understand that this money --- the "local share" money --- was never intended for property tax relief? this money was set aside by the general assembaly in 2004 so that washington county could have millions of dollars to spend on special projects to sustain life here in the county. I agree that my property taxes are way too high, but that is a matter i'll be taking up with the governor's office. the local share money is, in effect, bonus money that the county has to create jobs and bring business to the area. period.
slots money : 8/13/2008
Some of Washington County's School Districts were supposed to receive some of the slots money. What happened to that?
Tax relief : 8/13/2008
Your passion for tax relief is admirable. Your placement of blame is approximately 215 miles too far west. The Hon. Edward G. Rendell PROMISED property tax relief STATE-WIDE in exchange for approval of gaming in the Commonwealth. The LOCAL SHARE has NOTHING to do with that promise, which, clearly, remains unfulfilled by Mr. Ed and his cronies. The Local Share dollars were awarded EXACTLY as the legislation intended. Now, those same legislators, who OUGHT to be crafting bills to fulfill their leaders PROMISE and find themselves incapable of doing so, are now trying to horn in on funds to which they are not entitled. Barry, Jesse, Tim, David, Pete, and Billy, get busy. Do your job. If you did it half as well as Economic Roundtable did theirs, we'd all be better off.
Slots Money : 8/13/2008
Funny all these comments...We the village idiots elect these no good so and so's every election into office and what did we expect...Thnigs will never change when big money and goverment come together....Did anyone really think that they would use the money for any kind of tax relief? You are only fooling yourself...Uncle eddie wants to raise the gas tax...Obamma want to tax goil companies wind fall profits...Let' s see can anyone tell me what that is and who do you think will pay that tax...Nope..wrong...not the oil company...you and me and the rest of the village idiots...but goverment is a no win situation unless we clean house ccompletely and regulate all their terms to 2 terms in office period. Wake up America.
huh? : 8/13/2008
These legislators, who it is so fashionable to slam, are trying to put money into infrastructure, job creation and bettering our communities. the county commissioners want to GIVE THEMSELVES THE MONEY- thats what putting it in the general fund means. yet some people are trying to say that the legislators are somehow trying to take the money for themselves, when if you read the article it is clear that its the county commissioners who want to pocket the cash. kudos to our representatives and senator for actually looking out for the people of washington county and not just themselves.
: 8/13/2008
Here is an idea...some of the stimulus projects, once completed would probobly need additional taxpayer funding to sustain them. If the $$ is not used for infrastructure like water and sewage just give me the 47% back.
The people want the relief : 8/14/2008
The public wanted the money for tax relief. That was what was promised. The difference between local and state is crap. It is typical politics, grease money and an arguement about who gets it. The reduction of the county taxes would be a start and better than redevelopment getting more money. Jesse White wants to control where the money goes so he can decide the winners and losers. Total crap move by White, worthy of Barry Stout and family. Sickening.
makes no sense : 8/14/2008
We did get some property tax relief this year, and that is NOT what the local share money is for. Be mad at the casinos in Pittsburgh and Philly for not getting their casinos open yet, be mad at your school board for raising your school taxes, but if you're dumb enough to give up the potential benefits of this money for our area for $60 per person in county tax relief (200,000 people and $12 million- do the math) then you're just falling into Maggi and Irey's lame argument.
Slots : 8/15/2008
Give it up for $60 per person, I will take it. That is $180 extra in tax relief. Better than more of my money being wasted by Barry, Jesse and Timmy for Alta Vista, South Pointe II (Southpointe I is 1/2 empty), greasing Ray Bologna, Barry's family, insiders at the courthouse. If you are stupid enough to trust the people that brought you Bonusgate and the payraises, then go ahead. BTW the local share was like the arena money, added after the political debate in Harrisburg. More crap from Stout, White, Solobay and gang.
