County auditor: property tax relief never promised

Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005 | 8:54 a.m.

But while opponents to the plan to build a casino and resort near Riverside say they feel they are being dealt a losing hand, county officials say property tax relief was never mentioned.

Washington County voters approved a referendum to build a $50 million casino and resort east of Riverside in September 2004. The development will include a 60,000-square-foot casino, 200-room hotel and an 18-hole golf course.

Some residents say they are the victim of a bait-and-switch because they won't receive property tax relief from casino revenues.

"Everyone voted for jobs and tax relief," said Dale Torpey, a Washington banker who opposed the project. "The jury's out on the jobs, and we've seen what happened to the tax relief."

The question on the ballot simply asked voters whether a riverboat casino should be approved. It did not have any mention about how revenues would be spent.

County Auditor Bill Fredrick said there was never any mention of using revenues for property tax relief.

"No one ever implied here there would be property tax relief," he said. "I don't think anyone made any statements about property tax relief."

Fredrick said about $400,000 a year in revenue from the casino will be used to pay off bonds that will fund the construction of a new water and sewer plant for Riverside.

He said the casino stands to gain because it won't have to build its own water and sewer plant. The casino will contract with the city for those services, Fredrick said.

Brian Hora, a member of the Washington County Farm Bureau, said county officials need to take another look at the plan.

"There was a pretty good opportunity for some tax relief, to hold our property taxes in check, and now it doesn't look like that's going to happen," Hora said.

The Farm Bureau didn't take a position on the casino proposal.

Riverside Mayor Bill Poch said he believes people who approved the casino voted for growth, not property tax relief.

People who oppose the use of revenues for a new water and sewer plant don't get the big picture, Poch said.

The casino and resort is expected to employ 850 people and attract 1.1 million visitors a year, he said.

Hora and Torpey said they will continue to speak out against the casino, but say they likely can't stop it.

"I've resigned myself to the fact the casino will be here," Torpey said. "I fought from Day 1 to get the best deal possible for the county and we're not getting it."