Town and Country Newspaper

News Article

HB 2552

Written by Larry Roeder, Editor
2012-07-19

Pennsylvania state legislators might be on vacation but that doesn’t stop some from continuing their work on behalf of those they represent.

On Tuesday State Representative Marcy Toepel (R-147) unveiled House Bill 2552 at a news conference surrounded by other state and county officials who support the legislation. Among them: State Representatives Mike Vereb (R-150), Todd Stephens (R-151) and Kate Harper (R-161); and Montgomery County Commissioners Josh Shapiro, Leslie Richards and Bruce Castor.

Since casinos opened in Pennsylvania, they have been required to pay a 2 percent share of all profits from slots and table games to local governments to help pay for the impact of having them in the area. But, under state gaming laws, Montgomery County’s share for Valley Forge was slated to be diverted into state-controlled entities; originally the Department of Community and Economic Development, run by the governor’s office.

However, a 2009 revision to gambling laws directed that the money go to another agency - the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The money would be used exclusively for grants for projects in Montgomery County that qualify for the Business in Our Sites Program, the Tax Increment Financing Guarantee Program and the Water Supply and Waste Water Infrastructure Program.

As stated in a story in today’s issue of the Town and Country, House Bill 2552 would change the state Gaming Act to ensure that the Montgomery County’s local share assessment for slots and table games would be specifically deposited into dedicated accounts for the purpose of supporting the maintenance and refurbishment of the parks and heritage sites throughout the county (75 percent), as well as Mission Kids and Laurel House (12.5 percent each). Mission Kids and Laurel House are both county-funded services which assist local families in need.

This newspaper applauds Rep. Toepel and her colleagues for this effort to keep the funds out of the control of state politicians. Other communities benefit from hosting casinos and Montgomery County should too.

The efforts of legislators in 2009 to direct the money from control of the Governor’s office was a good start, but the distribution of the funds could still be suspect. Remember the state sales tax back in the 1960’s and how all the money would go to funding education, negating the need for any other funding source? Well we all know how that worked out.

What legislators did in 2009 was a move in the right direction, but not the right move. We’re sure there were some compromises involved.

This effort to direct funding to support, maintain and refurbish parks and heritage sites throughout the county as well as supporting Mission Kids and Laurel House is another step in the right direction. And it cuts out the middleman, keeping the distribution of funds out of the hands of the Harrisburg.

With proper oversight, these funds can go quite a distance as long as all involved remember to focus first on their organization’s needs, not their wants.

Maybe if that funding was in place in 2009 there would still be a Nature Center in the Green Lane Park.

Now all that Toepel has to do is persuade the rest of the 20-plus Montgomery delegation to the state House that it is the right thing to do. It will be a tough battle and we wish her and her supporters success.

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