Comments due on Mohawk casino review

MONTICELLO, NY — Jim Kardatske of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will be accepting public comments on the Final Environmental Impact Study for the proposed Mohawk Mountain Casino through December 6.

Comments on the study can be mailed to Kardatske at the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eastern Regional Office, 711 Stewart Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214.

Electronic mail is not available at BIA, but faxed comments will be accepted at 615/467-1701.

Comments sent on the final study may be part of the “record of decision” and differ from any earlier comments made on the draft study.

Empire reports racino has poor financial results

MONTICELLO, NY — Blaming the state Lottery’s poor marketing and limited selection of games, Empire Resorts reported disappointing initial financial returns at its Monticello Raceway Racino operation.

According to Empire’s November 15 financial report, “The results of our VGM operations to date have been significantly below expectations … the results to date have been sufficiently disappointing that we have made an effort to find areas that might be improved on an expedited basis.”

Overhead, “the need to better balance operating expense with levels of activity,” was another problem, as was the need to “enhance our program for bus patrons (which was not commenced until two weeks after opening).”

Empire told stockholders that it planned to retain all operating capital and did not plan dividend payments in “the foreseeable future.”

Empire also is proposing a Cayuga Indian casino at the track and a Cayuga-Seneca casino at the recently purchased Concord Resort.

ECS looking for financial helpwith Mirant settlement

ELDRED, NY — Facing a new $1.53 million debt to refund taxes associated with the settlement of the Mirant tax appeal on its Mongaup River hydroelectric facilities, the Eldred Central School (ECS) District appealed last week to members of Congress and the state legislature to help them out.

In letters to Representative Maurice Hinchey, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senator John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, ECS Superintendent Ivan Katz said the “community is exceptionally upset over this new circumstance that we have absolutely no control over.”

Noting that the refund is equivalent to 14 percent of the district budget, Katz said, “Refunding these dollars is going to be difficult at best and is going to mean having to reduce expenditures in other areas…”The ECS Board of Education began discussions last week with the Town of Lumberland for joint long-term bonding of the debt.

New York calls for helmets for skateboarders

ALBANY, NY — Governor Pataki has signed legislation into law that will require New Yorkers under the age of 14 who ride skateboards to wear safety helmets. The requirements put in place by the new law are the same as those currently required for children who ride bicycles and use in-line skates.

Under current law, the use of helmets and other safety requirements placed on those children riding bicycles or using in-line skates are not required of skateboard riders, which could place children at unnecessary risk.

The new law also prohibits skateboarders from attaching themselves to any automobile on the roadway and restricts them from carrying any items that obstruct their view. Additionally, the new statute will include skateboards in a list of items that are included in the state’s bicycle and in-line skate public education and safety awareness program.

The law requiring the use of safety helmets for New Yorkers who ride skateboards takes effect on January 1, 2005. Senator Bill Larkin of New Windsor sponsored the bill in the Senate.

Pennsylvania business tax reform commission releases final report

HARRISBURG, PA — A report released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Business Tax Reform Commission recommends a 30-percent reduction in the state’s Corporate Net Income (CNI) Tax. The new 6.99 percent rate would be lower than those in all of the Commonwealth’s surrounding states.

The commission’s final report also recommends uncapping the amount of future Net Operating Losses that can be claimed by businesses, changing the apportionment structure for the CNI Tax and reforming the appeals process within the state Department of Revenue.

Governor Edward Rendell created the 12-member commission in March to recommend changes to Pennsylvania’s business tax structure that would broaden the tax base, thereby allowing lower tax rates and making Pennsylvania more competitive with other states.

General Assembly passes amendments to gaming law

HARRISBURG, PA — In what the Republican caucus in the Assembly calls an effort to address concerns raised by lawmakers and citizens, the Assembly approved last week several changes to Act 71, Pennsylvania’s gaming law.

The amendments would prohibit lawmakers, executive level state employees, other public officials and their immediate families from owning any financial interest in a gaming or related company. It would further expand the attorney general’s enforcement powers to cover the Gaming Board, which the law created, as well as other gaming related violations.

Governor Rendell has indicated that he plans to veto the bill.