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Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Baltimore Faces $14.8M Budget Shortfall Amid Missed Horseshoe Projections, Police Overtime Spending

Baltimore's rising property values and a sharp increase in new real estate transactions are creating better-than-expected revenue for the city, according to projections provided to the City Council on Monday.

The city's budget office expects $32.4 million more in property tax revenue than originally predicted for the current fiscal 2015 year. But the city charter says a surplus from property tax revenue cannot be used to close deficits. Now officials will have to find another way to make up the projected $14.8 million deficit that's being created in part by police overtime spending and disappointing returns from the Horseshoe Casino.

Based on Caesar's estimates of a year ago, the city budgeted $14.6M for ground lease – 90% ($13.2M) in the GF for property tax relief and 10% ($1.4M) in a special fund for school construction. These are the only uses permitted under State law. We are projecting revenue of the minimum $8M payment ($7.2M to the GF).

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9 comments:

  1. Glad their charter acts like a lock-box...now they'll actually have to cut spending - what a concept!

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  2. They should do what Delaware does. Decrease taxes to the casino operators and raise admission costs to taxpayers to enter State Parks.

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  3. I thought the profit from the casinos was going to education? Now they are using it in the budget in Baltimore? Does the profit from casino in Berlin help fund Berlins budget?

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  4. The casino in Berlin is not in town limits but most towns get a portion from the casino.

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  5. 3:01
    What a great idea lol!

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  6. 3:26
    1. The Ocean Downs is not in Berlin's jurisdiction so....no.
    2. That profit was going to education. In the context of the greater city budget. Hence why it's short. That's how budgets work.
    3. Keep asking questions! It's the only way you'll learn more!

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  7. 3:26 Did you really think it would go to what they said? Haha.

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  8. gubmint authorized gambling is FOR THE CHILDREN!

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  9. Ocean Downs pays to Berlin, Ocean Pines, & Ocean City on the local level.

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