Change my location
Local
Higher taxes burden bingo halls
LATEST ON THIS STORYRelated Topics: Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County (Map, News) - Randy Clemens will pay about $1 million in taxes next year.
Bingo World, a Brooklyn Park bingo hall that Clemens manages, will see a 2.5 percent increase in its county tax rate, which could be paid for by higher game fees or lower payouts.
“We pay a lot in taxes, and now we’re going to be paying more,” he said, referring to the hall’s $700,000 tax bill. “Add 33 percent to what we currently pay, and that will be our bill.”
The Anne Arundel County Council unanimously approved the tax hike, which will have the county’s three bingo halls paying 10 percent of their gross revenue starting July 1.
The tax hike is part of County Executive John Leopold’s effort to create parity among amusement facilities in the county. Bingo halls paid only 7.5 percent of their revenue to the county.
County officials expect to earn an additional $300,000 to $400,000 a year from the increase, though Leopold said the amount may fluctuate depending on the prize level.
“I think it’s mutually beneficial to those involved,” Leopold said. “It will certainly be helpful to the county.”
Delta Bingo in Laurel and Wayson’s Bingo in Lothian also will be affected. Neither facility could be reached for comment Wednesday.
No one spoke out against the bill during its public hearing Monday, and the council did not comment on the bill.
The money will go into the general fund, from which the county draws its money to pay for services and departments, said Kurt Svendsen, the county’s assistant budget officer.
Leopold said the money would help offset cuts in contributions made to nonprofits in the county’s $1.2 billion proposed budget, which currently includes a 2.7 percent property tax rate reduction.
“There’s not much we can do about it,” Clemens said. “I hope they spend it wisely.”
jflanagan@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:22 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Post offices stay open late for tax procrastinators"
Report as inappropriate
5:30 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008
re: "Post offices stay open late for tax procrastinators"
Report as inappropriate
4:39 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008
re: "Tax pros: Don’t forget deductions for education, savings, contributions"
Report as inappropriate
5:22 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
5:14 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
Report as inappropriate
4:42 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
4:12 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
4:06 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
3:05 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
12:24 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 7, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
Report as inappropriate
4:40 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 3, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
Report as inappropriate
2:28 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 3, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
Report as inappropriate
10:43 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 18, 2007
re: "Thousands of city properties on the market in tax auction"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
What post offices are open today later than 7:30 p.m.?
5 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Gizmo said:
It's pay day in the congress and Ted Kennedy is waiting for my check, it's his turn to buy a round at the Senate Bar.
5 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This article should have been written in January... Better late than never...
4 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Martin O'Malley said:
Stop criticizing me, you'd do the same thing if you were in my position. I'm the governor, I have the right to have more power and control over money. And the best way to do that is take it from the rich. They have the most of it, and besides, they don't protest and complain because they're too busy working.
156 agree | 149 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
The poll was done by "Alliance for Tax Fairness, a coalition of liberal advocacy groups". I'm sure that wasn't biased at all... What really cracks me up are these far left groups that throw "Progressive" in their title. Progressive to who/what, other than your socialist agenda? Is huge government "progress"? I don't think so, anyway.
149 agree | 148 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
reader said:
I think the politicians should stand and say to O'Malley, make the cuts and see where that lying, sack of crap will lay the blame then. Oh I forgot he can always blame Bob Ehrlich, even for the BGE lies he told us.
154 agree | 162 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
VJC College Republican said:
If Thomas Jefferson thought taxation without representation was bad, he should see it with representation!
166 agree | 168 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Thanks Baltimore City and Prince Georges county for electing this tax and spend Democtat. You deserve all the taxes this wimp can impose
197 agree | 160 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Sven said:
Makes no never mind. O'Malley has got them where he wants them. Don't give him his tax increases and he will cut the funds to your county, teachers retirement, green programs and anything else to blackmail the legislators. M.O. WINS!
178 agree | 185 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Tax fairness” lol. How is it fair the I might be taxed more just because I happen to be successful? Am I using more State resources then someone who is less successful? I've got two kids in college but I don't qualify for any state aid on tuition because I've committed a sin against liberal sensibilities by making to much money. A lower income citizens kid gets the State tuition aid my kids are denied how’s that for fair. The 4% state tax on a $200,000 salary equates to a bigger contribution to the state coffers the 4% with held from a $35,000 salary so don't talk to me about fair taxation.
221 agree | 209 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Simple solutions to taxes, No Taxes except on purchases.... The rich would then pay and the poor would save. No employment tax!!
210 agree | 191 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Why is it that the folks who conduct these polls never speak with anybody I know?
206 agree | 184 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I've searched everywhere for the list, including the Times for the list of properties. It has not yet made it to the OTR website. Anyone know where you can find this other than the original newspaper ad?
263 agree | 224 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree