BERLIN – Officials decided to dedicate casino revenue to a pension fund for police, a new community center and ambulance costs.
The Berlin Town Council on Tuesday voted 4-1 to approve a multi-year plan for the town’s annual share of casino revenue.
“Since the inception of the Local Impact Grant (LIG) the town has utilized grant funding for public safety and intends to continue to prioritize public safety spending over the next three fiscal years,” Mayor Zack Tyndall said. “The primary public safety expenditure will be the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System.”
In years past, the town used its annual casino grant to pay for its new police station. With that now paid off, the Local Development Council (LDC), which reviews jurisdictions’ use of casino revenue, asked the town for a new multi-year spending plan. While municipal officials made the decision in early 2023 to fund LEOPS with casino revenue, this week they discussed the specifics of casino revenue allocations. Tyndall said the town was projecting annual LIG revenue of $420,000 going forward, though the figure has occasionally been higher. With what was left over in casino revenue, the town should have $1,694,569 in LIG funding for fiscal year 2024-2026. Because LEOPS is only projected to cost $1,475,000 during that time period ($340,000 in FY 24, $350,000 in FY 25 and $360,000 in FY 26 and $425,000 in a LEOPS stabilization fund), there will be unassigned LIG funding of about $219,000.
Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols suggested it be put toward the community center town officials have talked about for years.
That should include the Jail Officers too !!!! They are part of Law Enforcement too !!! & Get Paid Alot Less !!!!
Berlin has no jail
But yet they still seek tax dollars in spite of getting gambling revenue for education. Better vote with your feet in md. Tax increases and no representation from Annapolis…it’s only going to get worse.