Russ Diamond, 102nd district, addresses the crowd at the Lincoln Republican Club after winning his reelection campaign on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.(Photo: Jeremy Long, Lebanon Daily News)
Legislation authored by Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) seeks to acquire 50 percent of local share assessments (LSA) of Hollywood Casino proceeds for Lebanon County, in which the casino is partially located, according to a press release Friday from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
“The Pennsylvania Gaming Act allocates LSA funds to the host county of a particular casino to help offset the impact it has on the community,” said Diamond, in the press release. “A portion of the Hollywood Casino property is technically within the boundary of Lebanon County, and our emergency and human services have indeed been impacted. It’s only fair that some of the proceeds be assigned to our county.”
Diamond cited the examples of the Sands Casino and Resort in Bethlehem, Northampton County, which shares proceeds with neighboring Lehigh County, and the Mt. Airy Casino Resort in Mt. Pocono, which shares with Monroe and adjacent counties, the press release said.
Dauphin County has routinely received in excess of $13 million annually in LSA proceeds since Hollywood Casino first opened its doors. Diamond, who serves on the House Gaming Oversight Committee, says the taxpayers of Lebanon County should also benefit from the casino operation, according to the press release.
“The cost of running Lebanon County increases each year, and we represent a significant portion of the casino's affected area,” said Diamond, in the press release. “Unfortunately, we've been blocked from receiving the appropriate offsetting benefits by the peculiarities of the Gaming Act's language. The possibility of some aid coming from an entity located here would be helpful to the Lebanon County budget. I am hopeful my legislation gets favorable consideration.”
House Bill 633 is currently awaiting committee assignment.
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