AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — How the state’s share of revenues from Hollywood Slots in Bangor are divvied up is under review in the Maine State House.
The Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee on Tuesday held the first of several meetings to revisit how the state’s $27 million share of casino revenues are allocated. The review comes as lawmakers face a projected budget gap of more than $1 billion.
After the casino was authorized in 2003 by voters in an attempt to revitalize Maine’s harness racing industry, a formula was established to allocate slot money to recipients, including drugs for the elderly and state university and technical college scholarships.
In the meantime, millions of dollars have poured into those programs as well as harness racing sites, off-track betting parlors and the city of Bangor.
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