Since most of the low wage jobs provided will be part-time, the problem of sub-standard housing, called 'hot bedding,' appears ignored.
How much will water and sewer cost?
[In Palmer, the Citizens' Study Committee determined the annual cost to host Mohergan Sun would be $18 MILLION to $39 MILLION. It would seem that factoring the reduced traffic volume places the Plainville estimates rather low.]
It is known that the facility will EXPAND to include table games. It has been publicly discussed during the Gam[bl]ing Commission's meetings.
There are numerous other issues not included in the rush of Casino Cheerleaders that will short-change the future of Plainville.
Plainville's boom?
Report: Slots would generate $8.6M, but cost up to $5.6M
Aerial Photos 2012
A consultant's report says that proposed slot machines at Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville, seen here last November, would generate $8.6 million over five years, but would cost the town up to $5.6 million in services and facilities.
Posted: Monday, June 3, 2013
BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
The Sun Chronicle
PLAINVILLE - Slot machines at Plainridge Racecourse would generate $8.6 million for Plainville over five years, but would cost the town up to $5.6 million in services and facilities, a consultant's report estimates.
The cost to the town would include $3.1 million for the fire department for additional personnel and a new fire station, according to Cummings Associates, a gaming consultant hired by selectmen.
The report said Fire Chief Ted Joubert believes the town needs either a satellite station to handle the northeastern end of Plainville, or a new, larger headquarters to service the entire town.
Joubert, however, told The Sun Chronicle he believes the station and additional fire personnel are needed regardless of whether the slot machine parlor gets built.
He said the response time from the downtown fire station to the northeastern end of town and other locations is more than the five-minute national standard.
A new housing complex off Taunton Street and a planned shopping center off Madison Street will result in more fire and ambulance runs to the northeastern sector, with or without the slot machines, he said.
A slot parlor at the Route 1 racetrack will make the needs all the greater, he said, because an expected 6,000 cars per day are expected to visit the site.
The gambling customers will have their share of medical emergencies and auto accidents, requiring service, he said.
The best place for a new station would be near the intersection of Routes 1 and 106, he said. Rushing to emergencies in that area puts a lot of strain on fire trucks because the drive is uphill.
The Cummings Associates report also found that the police department would need an additional $742,000 to $1.5 million for more personnel and the school department would require another $774,000.
The slot machines are unlikely to attract many new families to Plainville and send their children to public schools, the report said, but the Taunton Street housing complex and other factors could increase enrollment by 1.5 percent.
In total, it was estimated slot machines would cost the town $4.8 million to $5.6 million in additional services and facilities.
Cummings, with the help of EKayPlainridge on mitigating the impact of expanded gambling. Selectmen have entered negotiations to come up with a host-community agreement with Plainridge that is required of all applicants for state gambling licenses.
The state Gaming Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Senior Center on School Street on its procedures for considering applications for slot machine and casino licenses.
In addition to estimating the cost to the town of additional services made necessary by slot machines, the consultant came up with figures for potential revenue to the town.
The report states that the $250 million expansion Plainridge anticipates if it gets a slot machine license from the state would produce $8.6 million in additional revenue for the town over five years.
The bulk of that figure comes from an estimated $7.2 million in property taxes on the gambling facility.
Another $391,000 would come meals taxes, $816,000 from building permits and $204,000 from additional taxes from horse racing.
The estimates do not include any payments selectmen might negotiate with the track, such as a percentage of the take from the slot machines.
Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes said no matter how you look at the numbers, they are a net gain for Plainville when it comes to revenue.
He said he believes the estimates by Cummings were made "with an abundance of caution."
Joubert's requests for more personnel and a new station have been made before, Fernandes said, and should not be attributed solely to the track expanding into slot machines.
"You can't say 'Plainridge is the straw that broke the camel's back.' The need is already there. Plainridge makes it more difficult," Fernandes said.
Planning board Chairman Stanley Widak has questioned the $816,000 estimate for building permits.
He said Thursday that permit payments are a one-time income, and he does not understand why the consultant spread them over five years. He said he also questions whether the total will actually reach $816,000.
Fernandes said he believes the estimates are fairly accurate.
Building permits are based on 1.4 percent of construction costs, he said. If the construction costs for the project come to about $60 million, the estimate should be on target, he said.
Fernandes said the track has already paid $154,000 for building permits on a parking garage and other work at the site.
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/plainville-s-boom/article_ce42fbb0-fa9f-59ec-bd53-594e01e2b166.html
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