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Table games bill to divvy cash among county municipalities
If the legislation passes, it means that the county's largest municipality, Peters Township, with a population of 17,566 according to the 2000 U.S. Census, would receive $200,660 each year from the local share of slot-machine gambling generated by The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
The tiniest municipality, Green Hills Borough, population 18 in 2000, would receive $25,180, based on that year's Census figures.
State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, said the money would be transfered quarterly from the state Revenue Department to the municipalities.
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Under rules in effect for 2008 and 2009, municipalities had to apply for the local share money through the redevelopment authority, and the committee heard requests for allocations to pay for street sweepers, police cars and salt sheds.
The Legislature isn't scheduled to convene until Nov. 9, but information on the redevelopment authority's Web site says local share applications for 2010 are due at 5 p.m. Nov. 2.
White said he had talked Wednesday to Jeff Kotula, chairman of the local share committee, about a possible change in the deadline.
Kotula said later in the day that he had not yet talked with the commissioners or the redevelopment authority about a change.
The local share account from The Meadows Racetrack & Casino generated $8.2 million in 2008 and $11.1 million this year for projects ranging from modest renovations at the Claysville Community Center to a $1.8 million sewer project in Centerville. The first year brought in 85 applications and the second year there were 112 applications.
"It's kind of what we did last time," Commission Chairman Larry Maggi said of the changes proposed for Washington County's local share. A third of the money was allocated for municipal projects, another third for economic development projects and a final third for water and sewer infrastructure.
He's waiting to see what the Legislature enacts.
"The budget's been done with the assumption that table games will be the messiah to bring the money in," Maggi said. "But it hasn't been voted on yet."
Some municipalities have never applied for the local share. Others have applied but have never received any money, as Washington Mayor Sonny Spossey reminded the public last week at a council meeting.
The language on Washington County's local share of gambling revenue has been agreed to by "all four caucuses and we don't anticipate it coming out," White said of Democrats and Republicans in the state House and Senate.
Still up in the air in the table games bill are the casinos' upfront license fees, which will be between $15 million and $20 million; the tax casinos would have to pay on table games, which will fall between 12 and 34 percent; and whether a portion of table games revenue will have a local share as slots revenue does.
whoever : 10/15/2009
all that money why not give meadows racetrack employees a raise they earn 9.25 an hour
Property Tax Relief : 10/15/2009
What ever happened to this promise?? The reason the boys and gals from harrisburg provided the path for casinos where to provide for property tax reief - More Lies !
Finally : 10/15/2009
Something that makes sense! The existing slots distribution process is horrible. Fairly and equally allotting the table games money is a good sign that legislators are finally listening to the communities.
Kiss the bippee. : 10/15/2009
Where there is money to be had, there is always corruption .... learning from experience.
TAX RELIEF ; 10/15/2009 : 10/15/2009
don't you understand yet you will get what ever they give you an like it;
Allotting Money : 10/15/2009
I beleive after reading the articile that they have finally gotten on the right page Sounds like they are listening like notso said. and for luck of the draw I would dearly be very happy if I could earn 9.25 an hour. Did you ever think of how many people are still getting below the minimum wage, and they are making it. Don't be greedy that is what got our nation to the point it is today.
casino laugh : 10/16/2009
all this money and they did a major layoff last week...cant pay employees but can remodel a community center
