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Home My WebLink About2010-04-26 10-154 RESOLVECOUNCIL ACTION Item No. 10 154 Date: April 26, 2010 Item/Subject: Resolve, Opposing LD 1808, the Oxford County Casino Referendum Responsible Department: Legal Commentary: A sufficient number of signatures have been gathered to place an initiative on the state wide ballot that would modify existing state gambling laws to allow a casino with table games to be located in Oxford County. The Maine Legislature is currently considering LD 1808, An Act to Allow a Casino in Oxford County, the citizen's initiative. The bill and citizen initiative is not consistent with current Maine gaming legislation. The legislation is written so as to provide an unfair advantage to those who have put forth the bill and initiative to the detriment of the citizens of the State of Maine, Bangor and Hollywood Slots. Passage of this Resolve will state the Council's opposition to LD 1808 and advocate that the Legislature to promptly go into session and in a timely manner amend the bill to make it more consistent with current Maine gaming legislation, to protect the interests of the harness racing industry, to bring fairness to the process, to provide for equal and equitable taxation at all gaming facilities, to provide that table games be allowed at Hollywood Slots in Bangor and any other gaming facilities that become licensed in Maine. Manager's Comments:) ,� r q -7&f /f �f dlj(Ul�t®) c ��1� �A�7/�ll p�`t°I// GA) /bbl(ell IY71 C Associated Information: Resolve Budget Approval: Legal Approval: Introduced for x Passage First Reading Referral Department Head City Manager Finance Director Z�I/X?l City Solicitor Page _ of _ 10 154 �-� April 26, 2010 OF -- B4Nr �• `, .-...sosr Amended c I If` CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) Resolve, Opposing the Oxford County Casino Referendum WHEREAS, on November 4, 2003, a state-wide referendum authorizing the operation of slot machines at commercial harness racing tracks was approved by the voters of the State of Maine; and WHEREAS, at that time, voters in the City of Bangor also approved the state-wide measure affirming their support for authorizing slot machines in Bangor; and WHEREAS, as a result of these actions, the voters of Bangor and Maine had authorized an expansion of the gaming functions traditionally allowed in the State; and WHEREAS, the City of Bangor has entered into various agreements with Bangor Historic Track, Inc., known as Hollywood Slots, for a racino operated in association with Bangor Historic Track; and WHEREAS, a sufficient number of signatures have been gathered to place an initiative on the state-wide ballot that would modify existing state gambling laws to allow a casino with table games to be located in Oxford County; and WHEREAS, said citizen initiative is not consistent with current Maine gaming legislation; and WHEREAS, said citizen initiative is written so as to provide an unfair advantage to the those who have put forth the bill and initiative to the detriment of the citzens of the State of Maine; and WHEREAS, Maine's current gaming legislation was originally written with a goal of assisting the harness racing industry and the said citizen initiative is not consistent with that goal; and WHEREAS, said citizen initiative provides for the introduction of table games to the State of Maine, but limits them to a casino in Oxford County only, prohibiting them from Hollywood Slots in Bangor; and WHEREAS, said citizen initiative requires that any expansion of gaming in the State of Maine be subject to a statewide referendum; and WHEREAS, said bill and citizen initiative requires that any expansion of gaming in the State of Maine be subject to a statewide referendum; and WHEREAS, the tax rates in said bill and citizen initiative are not consistent with the current tax rate, which would result in the casino paying less taxes on slot revenue than Hollywood Slots; and WHEREAS, if the voters approve the introduction of table games to the State of Maine, table games should be allowed at Hollywood Slots in Bangor and the tax rate on slot revenue should be consistent throughout the State of Maine. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT we call upon the Legislature not to pass LD 1808. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT in the event LD 1808 is approved by the voters we call upon the Legislature to promptly go into session and in a timely manner amend the bill to make it more consistent with current Maine gaming legislation, to protect the interests of the harness racing industry, to bring fairness to the process, to provide for equal and equitable taxation at all gaming facilities, to provide that table games be allowed at Hollywood Slots in Bangor and any other gaming facilities that become licensed in Maine. 10 154 :Assigned to Councilor -Bronson April 26, 2010 CITY OF BANGOR OR4`Z�By (TITLE.) Resolve, Opposing LD 1808, the Oxford County Casino Referendum WHEREAS, on November 4, 2003, a state-wide referendum authorizing the operation of slot machines at commercial harness racing tracks was approved by the voters of the State of Maine; and WHEREAS, at that time, voters in the City of Bangor also approved the state-wide measure affirming their support for authorizing slot machines in Bangor; and WHEREAS, as a result of these actions, the voters of Bangor and Maine had authorized an expansion of the gaming functions traditionally allowed in the State; and WHEREAS, the City of Bangor has entered into various agreements with Bangor Historic Track, Inc., known as Hollywood Slots, for a racino operated in association with Bangor Historic Track; and WHEREAS, a sufficient number of signatures have been gathered to place an initiative on the state-wide ballot that would modify existing state gambling laws to allow a casino with table games to be located in Oxford County; and WHEREAS, the Maine Legislature is currently considering LD 1808, An Act to Allow a Casino in Oxford County, the aforesaid citizen's initiative; and WHEREAS, said bill and citizen initiative is not consistent with current Maine gaming legislation; and WHEREAS, said bill and citizen initiative is written so as to provide an unfair advantage to the those who have put forth the bill and initiative to the detriment of the citzens of the State of Maine; and WHEREAS, Maine's current gaming legislation was originally written with a goal of assisting the harness racing industry and the said bill and citizen initiative is not consistent with that goal; and WHEREAS, this bill and citizen initiative provides for the introduction of table games to the State of Maine, but limits them to a casino in Oxford County only, prohibiting them from Hollywood Slots in Bangor; and 1 �? L WHEREAS, the tax rates in said citizen initiative are not consistent with the current tax rate, which would result in the casino paying less taxes on slot revenue than Hollywood Slots; and WHEREAS, if the voters approve the introduction of table games to the State of Maine, table games should be allowed at Hollywood Slots in Bangor and the tax rate on slot revenue should be consistent throughout the State of Maine. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT the City of Bangor opposes passage of the Oxofrd County Casino referendum question. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT in the event the Oxford County referendum question is approved by the voters we call upon the Legislature to promptly go into session and in a timely manner amend the bill to make it more consistent with current Maine gaming legislation, to protect the interests of the harness racing industry, to bring fairness to the process, to provide for equal and equitable taxation at all gaming facilities, to provide that table games be allowed at Hollywood Slots in Bangor and any other gaming facilities that become licensed in Maine. IN CITY COUNCIL April 26, 2010 Motion Made and Seconded for Passage Motion Made and Seconded to Amend by Substitution Passed Motion Made and Seconded for Passage as Amended Peter Martin of Black Bear Entertainment spoke in Opposition John Osborne of Hollywood Slots and Don Mirand of Maine Harness Racing & Breeders Association Urged Council Support Representative Debra Plowman offered herself as a reference Pared CITY CLERK (TITLE,) the Oxford COnntg-ra&jnn RafejP end jg Assigned to Councilor__ 4 10 1554 PLEASE READ To: Honorable Council Chair and Members of the City Council From: Robert W. Farrar, Interim City Manager Date: April 23, 2010 Subject: Resolve to be Amended by Substitution — 10-154 On Monday night's agenda under new Business is a Resolve Expressing Opposition to the Oxford County Casino (Resolve 10-154), When the original Resolve was prepared, the Legislature was in session and a bill (LD 1808) was being considered, which is referenced in Council Resolve 10-154. Given that the Legislature has adjourned and LD 1808 no longer exists, references to it in Resolve 10-154 should be deleted. Accordingly, the attached Resolve has been prepared with the appropriate corrections, and Council Resolve 10-154 should be amended by this new version Monday night. cc: City Solicitor City Clerk