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PLAINS TWP. — As part of its agreement to continue to provide crucial local share funds, Mohegan Sun Pocono has paid over $400,000 to Plains Township to use to support vital community needs and projects.
Mohegan Sun Pocono agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding to continue making local share payments in 2017 despite a decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court voiding the assessment imposed by the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. State lawmakers have been considering ways to address the issues with the revenue sharing program since the court’s decision in September 2016, but a solution has yet to be enacted.
According to information provided by Plains Township, through May 26, 2017 — the day after the Supreme Court’s decision went into effect — the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue collected the local share funds due to the township from the casino. During this period, the Department of Revenue disbursed $1.6 million to the township from Mohegan Sun Pocono. The casino’s first direct payment of $400,477.76 covers the time period of May 27 through June 30, 2017.
Local share funding has served an important role in promoting economic development, providing for public safety and emergency services, and advancing other public interest initiatives. Township commissioners have utilized the local share funds in the past to support critical community needs such as a new fire department pumper, breathing apparatus for the fire department and new police vehicles.
“The local share funds we receive from Mohegan Sun Pocono greatly benefit our residents and enable the township to purchase essential equipment for police and other first responders,” said Rob Sax, chairman of the Plains Township Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners will evaluate potential uses for the 2017 local share funds in the coming months. Potential projects and uses include:
• Updating the police department locker room.
• Purchase a 2017 Ford Interceptor SUV for police department.
• Payment on new fire department pumper and rescue cascade unit.
• Payment of aerial fire truck and freight-liner truck for Department of Public Works.
“Without local share funds, there is no doubt that these important projects could be delayed or canceled,” Sax said.
Anthony Carlucci, president/CEO of Mohegan Sun Pocono, said the casino group “is proud of our partnership with Plains Township, and pleased to continue our local share funding in 2017 as it provides the community with many important public benefits.”
Commissioner Gerald Yozwiak, vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners, said Mohegan Sun has been a good neighbor for more than a decade.
“And they stepped up to the plate again with this funding,” Yozwiak said. “Mohegan Sun Pocono’s financial support provides a double benefit — it helps address important needs for our township, while at same time helping to avoid increases in property taxes.”
Sax said a permanent reinstatement of the local share program is expected to be addressed by the state legislature this fall.
“Restoring local share funding is absolutely critical for our township,” Sax said.
State Sen. John T. Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, said he is hopeful that the General Assembly will come to an agreement on a legislative remedy to the local share assessment issue, as local share funding serves an important role in host municipalities across the Commonwealth.
“I commend Mohegan Sun Pocono for being a strong community partner and agreeing to continue local share funding this year,” Yudichak said.
State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca, added, “I appreciate Mohegan Sun Pocono’s efforts to maintain local share funding despite no law being in place to require the continued payments. This demonstrates that the casino and Plains Township are strong community partners.”
