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Tax rates floated for 2 new casinos near New York City

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Updated: SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 — 5:07 PM EDT

by WAYNE PARRY, The Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) – State voters are being promised that millions of dollars in new funding will flow to programs for senior citizens and the horse racing industry and to help a struggling Atlantic City if they approve a ballot question authorizing two new casinos near New York City. But what they’re not being told is what tax rate the new casinos in the northern part of the state would pay or how much new money would be available.

On Tuesday, a state lawmaker proposed specific tax rates for the new gambling halls. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo told The Associated Press a casino at the Meadowlands Racetrack might be taxed at 35 to 40 percent while a costlier one in Jersey City could pay 15 to 20 percent.

“We’ve lagged behind in terms of being transparent,” said Caputo, a northern New Jersey Democrat and former casino worker. “There’s no use kidding anybody about that. The tax rate needs to be established.”

The proposal came as pro- and anti-casino expansion forces are pouring millions of dollars into ads in the nation’s most expensive media market to influence the outcome of the November referendum.

https://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160913_ap_4ef39630556040adbc5c3562336154f1.html