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10/28/2009 3:33 AM

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Observer-Reporter

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Parents have always had a way of reminiding their young and foolish offspring about the realities of life. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch," was what they said when they witnessed optimism spoiling toward greed.

Our representatives in Harrisburg figured they'd finally ended the three-month stalemate over the budget by agreeing to allow table games at Pennsylvania's spanking-new slots parlors. It was simple as pie, they thought, rubbing their hands in anticipation. All we have to do is demand some enormous licensing fees from the casinos and then take a hefty portion of the proceeds in taxes. Voila! Hundreds of millions in new money!

While the legislators bickered about how much of the profits to skim, our local commissioners, supervisors, council members and school directors joined the celebration, bellying up to the table for yet another helping of easy cash.

Meanwhile, back at the incubator, the eggs seem to have been misplaced ...

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The Meadows Casino & Racetrack has achieved great popularity and hefty profits from slot machines alone, and its owners are not nearly so excited about forking out millions in order to have table games. In fact, Meadows spokesman David LaTorre says that his company isn't interested in adding full-scale gambling if the tax rate is too high. A couple of bills in the state Legislature are calling for fees between $10 million and $20 million and taxes anywhere from 12 to 37 percent. It seems other casino operators are balking as well.

So what happens to our state budget if those eggs don't hatch?

If that isn't enough to worry about, consider that The Meadows is appealing its property tax assessment, hoping to reduce it by half. Should it win its appeal, that will be a lot more money not going to municipalities and organizations that have already counted those chickens.

The casinos are not humanitarian organizations; they are not nonprofits that have come to our state to relieve it of its budget problems; they are not in business to support local schools and fire departments; they are in business to make money.

Parents could have told us that.

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4 comments

Bottom line : 10/28/2009
They are in business to TAKE your money IF you are stupid enough to part with it.

ns

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ridiculous : 10/28/2009
they are making so much money they can afford the taxes. are you saying that the people should pay more taxes instead of the casinos? that's insane.

ruth

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Afford taxes? : 10/28/2009
Ruth, are you part of the financial management team at the casino? How do you have inside information about the casino's ability to pay more taxes? If so, please share more so that we can learn the internal workings of the finances of the casinos. It would be good information to know. As for the PA group in Harrisburg, this is one more example of spending money they don't have. The practice will never end. The best thing that could happen: Table games taxes and fees are set, and the casinos refuse to opt into the program.

R.

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Jesse White's Answer : 10/29/2009
In 2006 the slots money was Jesse Whites answer for everything. Good work Jessie, We are still broke. This isn't the golden goose you made it out to be. Just another misleading politician.

The Mrs.

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