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Communities ask Schwarzenegger to restrict
casino impact
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - About a hundred representatives of 10 communities
from across California asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday
to require Indian tribes to provide compensation for the impacts
of booming casinos on traffic, crime and the environment.
Lost in gambling tribes' success stories has been the harm to surrounding
communities' way of life, said opposition organizers who traveled
to the Capitol from Palm Springs, Barstow, San Bernardino, Plymouth,
Hesperia, Rohnert Park, Santa Ynez, and rural areas of the Alexander
Valley, Humboldt and Tulare counties.
"There's two types of counties in California - those that
have casinos and those that will," warned DeAnn Baker of the
California State Association of Counties. "It's hit the critical
mass stage."
Eight of the 24 counties that currently host casinos have analyzed
the fiscal affect, estimating they incur a cumulative $200 million
in annual and one-time costs, she said. Only five of the eight have
firm compensation agreements with their casinos, which pay a total
of $21.8 million - about a tenth of what counties pay for extra
services to accommodate the popular venues.
Baker joined with the California State Sheriffs' Association, the
Sierra Club, and supervisors from Yuba and Amador counties in calling
on Schwarzenegger to fulfill a campaign promise to require tribes
to pay their "fair share" of taxes, comply with environmental
laws, and compensate surrounding communities for their expenses.
"It is inexcusable that these large 'companies' don't pay
their share of taxes," unlike virtually every other business,
said Lenny Goldberg, executive director of the California Tax Reform
Association.
In response, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association estimated
that two to three dozen tribes have agreements with their communities
requiring them to pay "hundreds of millions of dollars"
to offset the cost of casinos. Because each tribe negotiates separately
there are no exact figures, said spokeswoman Susan Jensen.
While the tribes pay no taxes, they paid $72 million last year
into a state fund to compensate surrounding cities and counties.
"With few exceptions, tribes have created working relationships
with their neighboring governments," the association said in
a statement. "In those isolated situations where there have
been differences, tribes will continue to work diligently to resolve
them."
Thirteen community representatives met privately with Schwarzenegger's
legal counsel, Peter Siggins, and were assured local governments'
interests are a priority as the administration tries to renegotiate
20-year gambling agreements approved by former Gov. Gray Davis,
who was recalled by voters in October.
The delegation was led by Cheryl Schmit, director of Stand Up for
California, who organized Tuesday's Capitol rally.
She wrote one of several initiatives proposed for the November
ballot, hers requiring tribes to pay the standard corporate state
income tax in exchange for being allowed to operate 3,000 slot machines,
up from the current 2,000 machine cap. Schwarzenegger is backing
none of the proposed ballot measures, concentrating instead on his
own negotiations with tribes, said spokesman Vince Sollitto.
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Source: Mercury News
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