Meadows reports contributions for '09

Observer-Reporter

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino said Tuesday it provided $153 million for property tax relief and economic development in 2009, based on statistics from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

The largest share - $94,681,231.01 - was The Meadows' contribution to the state that must be used to provide property tax relief to Pennsylvania homeowners.

Other contributions for calendar year 2009 included $11,138,968.27 for use by local Washington County governments in economic-development efforts; $13,923,710.52 for the state's economic-development trust fund, which is being used on various projects, including the Consol Energy Center, the new arena currently under construction for the Pittsburgh Penguins; and $33,411,747.43 for Pennsylvania's Horse Racing Development Fund. The fund provides support for racing purses, breeding, and health insurance for jockeys, grooms and other employees of horse owners who normally wouldn't have insurance.

The information was included in a press release provided

"The Meadows is proud to play its part in supporting tax relief, economic development and Pennsylvania's horse racing industry," said Bill Paulos, a principal of Cannery Casino Resorts, which owns The Meadows. "In only a few short years, The Meadows has provided hundreds of millions in support for great local causes, as well as tax relief for every Pennsylvania homeowner. We are just one example of how the state gaming law is working as intended to benefit millions of Pennsylvanians."

Millions in local economic-development funding has been approved for a variety of important Washington County projects, including $200,000 for the expansion of the Washington Hospital; $349,000 to the Washington/Greene County Job Training Agency for the Washington/Green Job Training Work Certified Academy; $100,000 to the Burgettstown Area Community Development Corp. for restoration of the Burgettstown Historic Train Station; $31,965 to the Washington County Transportation Authority for expansion of Washington County Transportation services; $275,000 to the Cecil Township Municipal Authority for the Elm Drive and McConnell Road Sewer Line Extension; and $125,000 to West Pike Run Township for replacement of the Whitehall Road Bridge.

The Meadows also has taken the initiative to become involved in several community projects. In September, 2.25 acres of land in North Strabane Township valued at $100,000 was donated to the township, where a new fire and police sub-station will be built. The casino also provided about $8.5 million for highway improvements to Racetrack Road to alleviate traffic concerns.

The casino also noted that with the help of its guests, it was able to donate all proceeds - $244,367 - from an April test night to more than 50 local volunteer fire departments; Collect 295,581 cans of food for the Washington County Food Bank to help feed the hungry; and hold a blood drive for Central Blood Bank, the region's largest blood center that supplies blood and blood products to more than 40 area hospitals, including Washington Hospital. More than 200,000 units of whole blood are needed annually to meet the demands of area patients.

It also donates $15,000 each in November to The Washington County City Mission, The Washington Area Senior Center and The Washington Women's Shelter; gave $9,735 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in October; provided $15,000 to purchase 1,000 turkeys to the 2000 Turkeys program for needy families during the Thanksgiving holiday; and donated 3,800 coats to Washington Christian Outreach to assist families during the winter.

With last week's legalization of table games, The Meadows said it expects to create at least 600 new jobs for area residents in the coming months.

According to PGCB data, The Meadows' year-to-date gross terminal revenue for fiscal year 2009-2010, (July 1 to Jan. 3), was $140,283,923. For the fiscal year so far, The Meadows is third among the state's nine casinos in the amount it collects before it pays the various taxes levied by the state and federal governments. It follows PARX (formerly Philadelphia Park), which had gross terminal revenue of $178,615,659; and Harrah's Chester Downs, which took in $154,222,610 before taxes.

Copyright Observer Publishing Co.