All PoconosB2B, News, Classified and all about life in Poconos
  

Read News

Pocono News Section

Officials say Gaming Tax Not Divided Fairly

Officials say Gaming Tax Not Divided Fairly - Thursday, December 6, 2007 at 3:59PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, Dec 6, 2007 @03:59pm EST
PARADISE TOWNSHIP - It's been more than a month since Pennsylvania's first stand alone slots casino opened and lawmakers wanted to check out its progress. So Thursday a gaming oversight committee met at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Paradise Township.

Since the casino opened in October the slot machines there have collected more than $5,000,000 tax dollars. Most will go to cut school property taxes but some is set aside for Monroe County - where the casino is located.

Commissioners there say the county isn't getting its fair share.

Commissioner Donna Asure reminded the board that Monroe County gets less money than other casino hosts because it has a smaller population. Other counties with slots parlors get 2% of the tax money. Monroe County gets only 1% and it has to share with six surrounding counties.

"Why are we treated different than other counties that are getting money back?" asked Asure.

During the hearing lawmakers told her they would try to find a solution. Meanwhile Asure wants to know why Monroe County was treated differently in the first place. "No one, no one, no one and no one today has been able to answer that question for us," she said.

Asure isn't the only local government official looking for more money from the casino. The resort is located in Paradise Township and its officials would like to see more as well.

"We have more people on the roads, as roads get used they wear, as they wear, you have to replace them," said Supervisor Chairman Dennis Keesler.

He explained no matter how much the machines rake in Paradise Township will get $400,000 a year. Lawmakers say they will work on that as well.

There were also a lot of positive things discussed at the hearing. Local business owners said Mount Airy has attracted new customers and Mount Airy officials said they have created close to 1,000 new jobs.
 


Discuss this news

Your Name (nickname):
Your Email: (will remain private)
Your Comments:
  


Home | News | Businesses | PA places | Classified | Cars for Sale | Account | Products | Home Recipes | Manuals | Stock Images | Earn Commissions | Advertise | Contact Us | Search
Raw Hack

© 2024 AllPoconos.Com All rights reserved.