Thursday, 4:30 PM
Under Patrick plan, casino revenues would ease property tax, fix infrastructure
(David L. Ryan/Globe Staff)
Governor Deval Patrick described his plan today at a State House press conference after months of study.
By Andrew Ryan and April Simpson, Globe Staff
Governor Deval Patrick today outlined his plan to license three resort casinos in Massachusetts that he said would create 20,000 permanent jobs and generate $400 million in new annual revenues that would be dedicated to fixing crumbling roads and bridges and offering a $215 property tax credit for homeowners.
The three casinos -- in Southeastern Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, and metropolitan Boston -- would be regulated by the "most rigorous and robust" gaming commission in the country, which would be funded by an assessment on every slot machine and table game, according to the administration. Each casino would also have to give 2.5 percent of its gross revenue to a new Public Health Trust Fund, which would combat gambling addiction and fund battles against other societal ills, including domestic violence and child abuse.
"I believe resort casinos can bring significant economic benefits to the Commonwealth, with manageable impact on communities," Patrick said. "Done the right way, resort casinos can join the many other reasons why Massachusetts is an international destination for travelers and tourists and a wonderful place to live."
The governor described his plan this afternoon at a State House press conference after months of study and a long stretch of public silence. His plan still needs to be approved by the Legislature and could meet significant resistance.
All three 10-year licenses would be put up for competitive bid, an auction that would immediately generate $600 million, revenues that would be used to jump-start the property tax credit program, according to the administration. Special consideration would be given to the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian tribe, which has already inked an agreement with the town of Middleborough to build a $1 billion resort casino. "At least one of the licenses I have talked about will have a Native American component," he said.
Once the casinos are built by 2012, the resorts would generate $400 million after the costs of additional public health programs, public safety, and other impacts on neighboring cities and towns.
"I'm not interested -- and I don't think most people are -- in turning Massachusetts into Las Vegas," Patrick said.
"They would be resort casinos," he continued. "I'm not just interested in a gambling hall. I'm interested in what amenities go around them -- the hotels, the entertainment, maybe a golf course, for example, because that’s where the largest economic impact seems to come from."
Under the proposal, $200 million of the new revenue would be used each year for a property tax credit for more than 1 million homeowners. The average credit would be $215 and would be based upon the percentage of a homeowner's income devoted to paying property taxes, according to the administration.
The remaining $200 million would be used to repair roads and bridges and help close the $15 billion to $19 billion funding gap for maintaining the state's transportation infrastructure. The money would help the state fix its nearly 600 structurally deficient bridges and address the backlog of rehabilitation and maintenance projects, according to the administration.
Suffolk Downs in East Boston and Revere's Wonderland Park immediately began jockeying for one of the three casino licenses, while gambling foes began mobilizing and vowed a major fight against casinos.
