Casinos Unlikely in Massachusetts -- What's Next?
In "Casinos proposal on brink of defeat", The Boston Globe and others report Governor Deval Patrick's revenue plan of bringing three casinos to Massachusetts is sure to fail this year. The House committee reviewing the plan voted 10-8 against.
The Casino Plan was touted as a means of bringing revenues into the state and to assist local municipalities. The argument in favor of the plan includes jobs, not losing revenues to nearby casinos (outside MA), and generating new revenues in a time of fiscal crisis.
The fiscal situation in cities and towns is bleak. Costs have outpaced revenues and cities and towns are facing tough choices while managing essential services. Last night I attended a Commission on Disabilities meeting where we heard the local budget would be cut 1% to 2%.
The manner is which local government is funded impacts legal issues throughout the Commonwealth. Attempts at Proposition 2 1/2 overrides are increasing. Parking tickets, seeking "mitigation" fees in cities and towns, pointing a finger at someone to blame are becoming more common and more aggressive. Community projects are being delayed. Unions are unsatisfied with contract negotiations. Generally, there are no winners when there is less of the pie to carve. The systemic revenue problems are also flowing downward to residents, whether they find their home in foreclosure or just trying to keep afloat.
I was recently helping a young family who are contemplating leaving the state. They are in a legal bind and they hope to simply survive and to keep some of their investment. If so, leaving the state for an affordable solution is anticipated.
I've spoken with many others who feel similarly. Many young families are asking, what can I get for my money someplace else. As schools go unfunded, police positions unfilled, and essential services injured, this may be a question those with equity in their homes are asking. Should I sell and leave? Will my costs be less someplace warm? Will I get more bang for my buck? I've had mixed results from those clients who have left the area. A few years later, some are quite happy (they like to call me during a winter storm and share how warm it is where they are). Some, however, want to move back home, but often find they can't afford to.
Was the casino plan right for Massachusetts? It wouldn't have addressed all problems, but nobody claimed it would. Regardless of one's position on the plan, its focus does address an immediate challenge facing Massachusetts, how do we find new revenues? Where can we create new jobs to sustain our local economy? How can our laws and our choices provide stability to families and individuals living week to week and wanting what's best for their children? The tide was high in MA for a while, it's receding. How do we turn things back around?
