Published: July 17, 2008 10:15 am         

Impact of gambling parlor on county remains unclear

CUMBERLAND - Up to $700 million in revenue is projected from slot machines if Maryland voters pass a referendum to approve a constitutional amendment.

About half that money is earmarked for education. Another 5.5 percent of gross revenue would be distributed to local governments in which a video lottery facility is operating. But exactly what impact slots revenue would have on Allegany County remains unclear.

There could be 1,500 slot machines placed at a planned $75 million slots parlor at Rocky Gap State Park. The county's share of the gross revenue - 5.5 percent - is to be spent on improvements in the "immediate vicinity" of the slots parlor. Critics and advocates of slots both have said there's little to be spent in the area that is under county control. Both Rocky Gap and Interstate 68 are maintained by the state.

The issue came up Wednesday during a legislative committee meeting of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce. Kathy Snyder, president and CEO of the state chamber, presented information on slots and advocated a pro-slots stance.

Barb Buehl, local chamber president, told Snyder it might not be easy to win local support for slots. There are "a lot of differences" between Rocky Gap and the other four planned sites for slots, she said. "One size doesn't fit all."

What makes Rocky Gap different is that it is situated on state property. Therefore, the county won't benefit from property taxes as will the other jurisdictions of Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester counties, and the city of Baltimore.

Snyder said details aren't available yet other than what is in legislation and noted that, unlike the four other sites, the legislation mentioned "nothing specific about Allegany County."

She, too, was surprised at some of the locations, including one at Ocean Downs race track near Ocean City. The Ocean City Chamber of Commerce has long opposed slots.

A nine-member State Lottery Commission is to oversee the state-regulated slots. Snyder encouraged the Allegany County Chamber to begin lobbying now for local representation on the commission.

"Never, ever take anything for granted," Snyder said. "It's never too early. You do have unique needs up here."

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.