* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Henry
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Request for State Action - Recreation Maintenance of Effort
FOR the purpose of calling on the General Assembly and the Governor to act to include a maintenance of effort provision in the State law setting aside table game revenue in Baltimore for recreational facilities.
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Recitals
The passage of Question 7 in the recent general election ensured that table games at the planned Baltimore casino will create a new revenue stream for the City in the near future. One of the selling points for expanded gambling for Baltimoreans was the frequently repeated assurance that this new revenue would be used to improve schools and recreation facilities for our children.
And, as advertised, the Maryland law authorizing table games does require Baltimore to split its share of table game revenue evenly between “school construction projects” and “the maintenance, operation, and construction of recreational facilities”. Given these constraints, and the current pressing need for more funding for both of these priorities, there is no reason to doubt that the immediate effect of table game revenue will be an increase in City spending on schools and recreation.
However, there is nothing in the State law that actually guarantees that the new revenue will result in a permanent increase in recreation funding, or, really, t...
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