Baker Won't Rule Out Pr. George's Slots
County faces $100 million shortfall next year
Monday, Dec 26, 2011 | Updated 12:57 PM EDT
Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker is pushing for approval of a feasibility study into bringing slot machines into the county to help mend a budget shortfall.
In an interview with The Washington Post ahead of next month's opening of the Maryland General Assembly, Baker said "it would be irresponsible" to not take gambling proposals into consideration.
"We have to look at almost everything," Baker told the paper.
Prince George's County is facing a $100 million budget gap next year, while the state of Maryland is facing a $1 billion shortfall. In addition to slot machines, a raise in the state's gas tax and the shifting of teacher pension costs to individual counties.
According to The Post, the slot machine issue was raised by Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., who said that the county should use some of the potential money from slot machines to cover some of the cost of a new teaching hospital, which would replace the Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly. Baker is trying to secure a $200 million contribution from the state during the upcoming session.
