The three towns competing for the last casino license in Massachusetts can each sum up their reason for throwing their hat in the ring in one word. In Somerset, that word would be “taxes.”
“It might be the only thing that can make up for the massive loss in revenue our town has experienced,” says Somerset Selectman Don Setters, standing in an open field on the town’s south side. “This is former farm land for most of its history. Probably going back 250 years.”
That revenue was lost when the town’s two biggest taxpayers, two utility companies, went away. The town bought this property from one of them about 10 years ago.
“And we’ve been just waiting for a rainy day to put this property to good use,” Setters says.
Setters says there was no way they could have put it to use as a park.
“I mean, right now we can barely take care of the parks and open space that we have,” he says.
But Setters sees salvation from the town’s financial problems in the form of a casino, and now Somerset is working with a group trying to snatch up the last of three Massachusetts licenses, set aside for the southeastern part of the state. Monday is the deadline for three companies interested in building a commercial casino in Southeastern Massachusetts to provide their financial information to the state gaming commission.
“We want to see things like a convention center, we want to see theaters,” Setters says. “A beautiful hotel with spas. Shopping. And some first class restaurants.”
Somerset hasn’t reached a host community agreement with the development group yet, but Setters is confident it will be generous to the town.
“I’ve made it clear in my discussions with our consultants: Don’t even bring me anything that’s smaller than what other communities have received,” he says.
Those agreements have been pretty lucrative — including in Somerset’s competition.
“There is a $10 million payment to the city of Brockton in lieu of taxes,” says Larry Curtis, who is running the campaign to win the southeastern license and build a casino at the Brockton Fairgrounds.
Brockton signed an agreement with a group called Massachusetts Gaming and Entertainment. And while that 10 million dollars is definitely a draw, the key word in Brockton’s campaign for the casino is “jobs.”
“It will create 1,500 permanent jobs, with preferential hiring to Brockton residents that will be paying on average $50,000 a year, with fringe benefits as well,” Curtis says. “That translates into probably a $45 million salary base coming in to the city alone.”
Sunday, the developers hosted what was essentially a job fair for jobs that don’t exist yet, and only Brockton residents were allowed in.
The third and final applicant for the southeastern license is New Bedford. And while the city could use an economic boost, the city’s mayor, Jon Mitchell, doesn’t like being branded as a down-and-out town looking to solve its financial woes. For him, the key word is “reinvestment.”
“We need to use the casino as a means to reinvest in the things we do well so we can accelerate growth in the port, in the downtown, in advanced manufacturing, and in other things that are succeeding already in New Bedford,” Mitchell says.
The developer, KG Urban Enterprises, has agreed to pay New Bedford $4.5 million up front, and then $12.5 million a year. Mitchell says he realizes that money might not keep coming forever, so it’s important the city doesn’t become dependent on it.
“What I’ve tried to emphasize to the public is that we should see this as an opportunity to better ourselves by reinvesting in ourselves, and not see it as the goose that laid the golden egg,” he says.
To get that opportunity, New Bedford has do more than just beat out Brockton and Somerset. In fact, each of the three towns have to convince their own residents.
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John Tripp plants a sign with a red circle with a cross-out line through it at the top in one of his friend’s yards. Down at the bottom, the sign says “No Casino Somerset.”
To first be considered for a casino license, each town has to hold a referendum. The Somerset referendum hasn’t been scheduled yet, because they haven’t signed a host agreement yet. The town also has to get approval at a town meeting to sell the property. Tripp is committed to stopping either of those approvals from happening.
“A casino will, most definitely, rip this town apart,” Tripp says.
Tripp knows the town is in rough shape financially, but he says a casino won’t bring new money in. He says it will just take money from the community, especially from people with gambling problems.
“What would come back, to the state and host communities, is on the backs of a lot of people who can’t help themselves,” he says.
He worries local businesses will be hurt by an all-inclusive resort that people don’t need to leave to spend money. That’s also a concern for some in Brockton.
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Community members file into the Brockton Assembly of God Church for a meeting of the anti-casino group Stand Up for Brockton. The town’s referendum is a week from Tuesday, and the town is littered with pro-casino signs saying “Vote yes for Brockton jobs.” But North Baptist Church Pastor Richard Reid says there’s no guarantee those jobs would go to people in town, since a credit check is required to be qualified.
“Here’s the reality check,” Reid says. “Most people — not any blame on themselves — but are unemployed or are having credit problems today. Are they the ones that are going to be hired? Whether from Brockton or neighboring community or anywhere, they will not qualify to work there. So where are those employees going to come from? Not Brockton.”
Critics also point out that whichever town wins the license, their casino will face plenty of competition. The Mashpee Wampanoags have been trying for years to get federal recognition to open a tribal casino in nearby Taunton. And just across the border in Tiverton, R.I., the town council is holding a special meeting tonight to consider moving the Newport Grand Casino to town. So when Somerset, Brockton, or New Bedford ultimately wins the southeastern license, the biggest challenge may be getting enough gamblers to show up.
