Bill > H3277

This bill addresses how municipalities should allocate revenue received from Category 1 gaming licensees (a type of casino or gambling establishment licensed by the state). Currently, when a gaming licensee pays property taxes or makes payments in lieu of taxes, the municipality can now only use those funds in a very specific way. The bill requires that such revenue must be distributed equally among all wards or precincts within the municipality and can only be used for three specific purposes: funding public safety facilities and personnel, promoting economic development, or improving infrastructure in each ward or precinct. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Mayor must annually present a detailed line-item budget to the City Council showing exactly how these funds will be allocated across each ward of the municipality. This approach aims to ensure more equitable and transparent use of gaming-related tax revenues at the local government level, preventing potential concentration of benefits in only certain areas of a city.

Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3277