Casino supporters, including Palmer Businesses for a Palmer Casino spokesman Robert Young, have questioned Mohegan's commitment to Palmer in the wake of the vote and news that Mohegan has now partnered with Suffolk Downs to run a casino in Revere.
Palmer Town Manager Charles Blanchard PALMER - The final bills are in, and the failed casino referendum and recount cost Mohegan Sun approximately $35,000.
Town Manager Charles T. Blanchard said the election cost the Connecticut-based casino operator $12,999.78, and the recount, $22,276.18.
He said the recount cost so much more because of attorney fees associated with the event, as well as notifications that had to be made regarding the recount to groups that had organized on both sides of the issue.
The anti-casino group, and pro-casino groups had to be formally notified of the recount so that they could have representatives there, he said. Also in attendance were lawyers for the town of Palmer, and two police officers working paid details. Blanchard said the expanded gaming act requires casino operators to pay for the local elections on the casino votes.
Mohegan Sun lost the casino vote on Nov. 5 by 93 votes. The Nov. 26 recount confirmed the loss, and resulted in another no vote, widening the margin to 94 votes. Fifty-one percent of those who cast ballots voted against it, compared to 49 percent in favor - a vote of 2,657 to 2,563.
Blanchard said the vote was disappointing because it was so close.
“The potential that the town had for revenue under the gaming act is many times what it would be from normal commercial development,” Blanchard said.
The town stood to gain an extra $16 million in revenue if the casino project passed.
Recently released campaign finance reports showed Mohegan spent $485,000 in the months leading up to the vote. A Mohegan representative has said the company spent $25 million over the years on the Palmer proposal.
Casino supporters, including Palmer Businesses for a Palmer Casino spokesman Robert Young, have questioned Mohegan’s commitment to Palmer in the wake of the vote and news that Mohegan has now partnered with Suffolk Downs to run a casino in Revere.