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Maine voters will face a single referendum question on Nov. 4 that could alter or reinforce the tone of the state as “The Way Life Should Be.”
Question 3 would allow an amendment to the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act, authorizing the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation to operate a gambling casino. The $65 million resort complex would be built on non-tribal land or territory in Maine, currently proposed for the town of Sanford.
The casino is proposed to include an 18-hole golf course, restaurants, shops, conference facilities and a theater.
The proposed legislation would allow the casino to operate for 20 years without amendment unless approved by the two tribes.
Question 3 reads: “Do you want to allow a casino to be run by the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation if part of the revenue is used for state education and municipal revenue sharing?”
Revenue sharing would provide money to the state, in place of income taxes, from revenue generated by slot machines. Penobscot Nation Chief Barry Dana said the casino would pay the state 25 percent of the gross revenue from the slot machines, which provides 80 percent of the total revenue for a resort casino. Dana estimates that $100 million would be paid to the state.
The legislation states that the money would be divided, with 50 percent allotted to municipal revenue sharing with the intent to provide local property tax relief, 40 percent to aid local schools, 5 percent to the Maine State Grant program for Maine residents pursuing higher education, and 5 percent to the Finance Authority of Maine for distribution to nonprofit organizations, whose principal purpose is to provide scholarships or otherwise enhance higher education opportunities for Maine students.
The legislation notes that the amount of money paid to the state by the casino would not be guaranteed because it is a percentage of the total revenue.
Dana said the casino is important to the state because it would create 10,000 jobs. He said if people are working and have more money, they will spend more and aid Maine’s economy.
The jobs would include about 2,000 construction jobs, 5,000 casino employees and an estimated 5,000 jobs created with services provided to the casino. The pro-casino group, Think About It Maine, reports that the average earnings would be about $31,000 a year, but casino opponents disagree.
“These are not $40,000 a year jobs,” said Dennis Bailey, spokesman for CasinosNO!
Bailey said the casino will create jobs, but cannot replace the hundreds of manufacturing jobs that have been lost in recent months, which average about $40,000 a year. He said a casino in Southern Maine can’t replace the void from closed mills in Northern Maine, but if built in Washington County, for example, it would be a different debate.
“A casino in the middle of a prosperous county, it doesn’t make as much sense,” Bailey said.
Bailey said primarily service jobs would be created, which would operate in three shifts over 24 hours, and can be tough to fill. He said the estimated $30,000 a year average would be offset by executives who earn six-figure salaries.
“They are over-selling jobs,” Bailey said. “I wish they would tell the truth about these jobs.”
Bailey said he does not see the proposed casino’s job opportunities as the cure to prevent college graduates from leaving the state.
Following a tour of Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, Bailey said the only businesses created in the area since the casino’s opening are a pawn shop and a 24-hour doughnut shop.
He said the casinos monopolize local business opportunities.
“They can really bargain for bottom-dollar rates,” Bailey said. “They can go elsewhere; they have the money so they are in the driver’s seat.”
Bailey said he questions who would want to go to a local tavern when the casino provides free drinks, or travel to a family restaurant in town when so many services are offered at the casino.
“These casinos are vacuums. They take all the business,” Bailey said.
The casino debate has received opposition and support from Maine’s past and present governors. Former Gov. Kenneth Curtis is in favor of the casino. Former Govs. Angus King and Jack McKernan have spoken out against the casino, along with current Gov. John Baldacci .
“This casino is not the answer to our economic problems,” Bailey said.
Dana argues that the casino will benefit both the state and the tribes.
“This is our one ticket to economic freedom, dignity and equality,” he said.
Dana noted that the casino would be built on land owned by the tribes, and would generate property taxes like other real estate.
“The casino land would be owned by the tribe, but would be subject to state, federal and local laws,” Dana said.
