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Bangor Councilors Oppose Casino in Oxford County

March 16, 2010 - BANGOR -- Although not with a formal vote, a majority of the Bangor City Council on Monday opposed a piece of legislation that would allow a casino in Oxford County.


Members of the council’s finance committee discussed a resolve, drafted by City Solicitor Norman Heitmann, that suggests LD 1808 would create a different set of rules from what Bangor’s gambling facility, Hollywood Slots, must abide by.


Specifically, councilors said, the casino initiative as proposed would allow the Oxford County facility to pay 3 percent less in state taxes than Hollywood Slots. Also, the proposal’s language would allow table games such as poker and blackjack in Oxford County but prohibit them anywhere else.


Hollywood Slots general manager John Osborne, as did his predecessor Jon Johnson, has lobbied lawmakers to add table games in Bangor.


“There has to be a uniform law on this,” said Councilor Pat Blanchette.


“It certainly makes sense that any tax structure should be the same,” added David Nealley, explaining that Hollywood Slots commits 49 percent of revenue to taxes but an Oxford County casino would be subjected to 46 percent tax.


Councilor Hal Wheeler agreed that the bill is rife with inequities that would put Hollywood Slots at a disadvantage.


LD 1808, which is scheduled for a workshop Wednesday by the Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee, is not likely to garner House or Senate support. Additionally, Gov. John Baldacci has said repeatedly that he would veto any bill that expands gambling in Maine.


Supporters of a resort and casino in Oxford County have gathered enough signatures to put the matter out to a statewide vote in November. Only once have Maine voters supported a gambling facility, and that was Hollywood Slots. A proposal to create a casino in Oxford County was rejected by voters in 2008, although LD 1808 is significantly different from that proposal.


Even though all five councilors who attended Monday’s meeting opposed the casino measure and represented a majority of the full council, the finance committee could not formally adopt the resolve. Any resolve needs to be voted on by the full council, but no meeting of that group is scheduled this week.


Councilors at the finance committee meeting Monday still wanted to articulate their position clearly before Wednesday’s workshop by the Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee in Augusta.


“I would hate to have someone say, ‘Gee, Bangor, why didn’t you speak up?’” said Councilor Rick Bronson, who asked Heitmann to draft the resolve.


“It’s important for us to step up and take a position,” Blanchette said.


The full council is expected to vote formally on the resolve as early as next week, although some councilors, such as Cary Weston, suggested that Bangor should include its legislative delegation in the conversation.


“I’d like to get their feedback before coming out,” he said.

by Eric Russell, March 16, 2010, Bangor Daily News

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