Bethlehem Township Commissioners recently adopted a resolution that practically begs the Gaming Board to start awarding grants to the municipalities surrounding the Sands Casino. But the Gaming Board has instead listened to their lawyer. At their September 25 meeting, Solicitor Graham Simmons cautioned them on this topic again.
About a year ago, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the tax imposed on slots revenue is unconstitutional because it violates the uniformity clause. The Court has stayed its decision while a legislative fix is attempted in the land of midnight payraises. But until that happens, the finds collected are in legal limbo. Simmons noted that "the money collected is an unconstitutional tax" and that "there could come a day when the state calls this money back."
Tom Nolan said he would be filing a motion to establish a round of grants for the municipalities surrounding the casino, which includes his own Bethlehem Township. He noted that Lehigh County distributed its casino funds. Mayor Gerald Yob of Freemansburg agreed with Nolan. His argument was that if they don't spend the money, the state will certainly want it back.
Other Gaming Board members suggested waiting. Tony Pristash (Northampton) observed that this issue has already been decided, and Dave Heintzelman (Hellertown) warned that Nolan's proposal is "playing with fire."
Joe Kelly, representing Bethlehem, played peacemaker. He suggested waiting until a legislative fix is in place and then calling a special meeting.
After hearing this compromise, Tom Nolan withdrew his motion.
15 comments:
Bethlehem township has come to rely on this impact grant money when they never really had an impact from the casino.
They have used this money to buy a fleet of new cars, armor for the cops, tracking computers etc, now they cry because the golden goose is just about cooked and they have to go back and be self reliant on their own tax base.
Poor Tom can’t get away with his fake claims of impact any longer and is in a panic
For too long these municipalities on he fringe of the Sands have benefitted from this alleged unconstitutional tax and they have detrimentally relied on this income to purchase premium law enforcement equipment [toys] which they never would have purchased on their own. Now that the golden goose is not producing any golden eggs, these useless municipal leaders will have to fend on their own. Good, now let them earn their money with responsible budgeting.
The bulk of the money always went to the communities with representation on the board. That is about to change. It's about time!
It went this way bc that is what the law dictated. It had to go to the surrounding communities first, who are impacted by gaming.
The gaming distribution remains a gerrymandered benefit. Over $130M in gaming dollars distributed across the Lehigh Valley heavily weighted based municipal and County Borders. An additional $9M in gaming grants from Monroe County share has reached as far as 35 line miles from Mount Airy and has benefited Northampton County Municipalities with non-impact investments. However, if you are 5 line miles from the Sands Casino, located in Lehigh County but not contiguous to Bethlehem, need not apply.
One department had 8 of 9 police cruisers replaced, 9 mobile data terminals, 9 in-car video systems, 8 body cameras, 3 license plate readers, multiple speed display devices, and a mobile scanner. Meanwhile, another department twice the size has requested assistance to purchase police cruiser(s) on more than one occasion and has been rejected. After 8 years and 130 MILLLION DOLLARS in local share, it is time to fix this gerrymandered benefit.
That's the law. If you don't like the law, change it.
Any proceeds from new forms of Gaming or gaming expansion should benefit municipalities that do not already received a defined benefit. Maybe a better definition of benefit would be to distribute based on a per capita uniform officer basis for municipalities that have funded Police Department.
The claim that a municipality such as Bethlehem Township is not affected by the casino is made by those who don't have a clue. Little do they know, but many of the buses that come from NY get off 78 at 33 and make their way along Freemansburg Avenue, through BT, F'burg, and into the City of Bethlehem. This creates wear and tear on the roadways, the possibility of the bus having an accident and requiring emergency services. Crime isn't the only condition that is factored into impact.
Unfortunately, there is a rumor that some legislators want to fill the budget gaps with this money. If they had their way, all local share revenue would go to paying their salaries.
Bernie @ 11:44,
Not every community in the surrounding area that falls under the impact umbrella gets a seat on the board. Thus, they don't get a vote in the distribution of money. Those that are on it scratch each other's back.
Freemansburg Ave is a State road. The Commonwealth maintains the road and the municiplaoty probably maintains the traffic signals. There is actually more traffic east of Rt33 (16,000 vehicles) as compared to west toward the city (12,000).
While a nobel investment, $4M to Portland for Wastewater plant is not related to gaming impact. So lets not overstate "impact" as the sole justification.
False. There is a seat for each of the communities surrounding the casino, as per state law. It is a nine-member board, and there are also representatives from Northampton, Nazareth and the Slate Belt. If you don't like this system, change the state law. Right now, it might all start going to the Commw. Financing Authority and then the grants will certainly be political. Tony Pristash and John Dally aren't looking to hand out WAMs to get elected to some high office. They are just trying to do what is right.
The golden cow has run dry. Get over it and move on. So much for tax relief. Another scam job by Harrisburg's greedy pigs.
The law for existing revenue share could be tweaked, but the Cities need their defined share. What I am proposing is extending new forms of gaming to broaden the benefit. It is less about changing the law and more about changing attitudes. Norco and CFA have done a fair job extending the best they can. It does help they have millions to share.
6:52 here. Let me clarify...I am not advocating internet or convenient store gaming, however, that seems to be the direction some want to go. If that should happen, a percent should be dedicated to law enforcement grants. Additionally, any expansion in existing venues should be dedicated to a new pool...not prorated back to a select few who already receive a considerable take.
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