BIDDEFORD — Baseball legend Yogi Berra said it best: “It’s deja vu all over again.”
Once more, the possibility of building a combined harness racetrack and slot machine facility in Biddeford is under consideration. Again, the same players, Scarborough Downs and Ocean Properties, Ltd., are involved and intend to construct the same “world-class” destination/resort complex they proposed in 2010-11.
There is one difference, however.
This time around, State Rep. and Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant, who voted against legislation in 2011 that would have allowed the racino to go forward, is a co-sponsor of a bill to make it possible.
Sen. David Dutremble of Biddeford and Sen. John Tuttle of Sanford are also co-sponsors of the measure, sponsored by Assistant Majority Floor Leader Rep. Jeff McCabe of Skowhegan.
The legislation LD 1558, “An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief by Expanding Gaming Opportunities,” is only in the preliminary stages.
On Wednesday, the Maine House of Representatives approved sending the Democrat-sponsored bill to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, where a public hearing and work session on the measure will take place.
A similar vote in the Maine Senate is expected to take place today.
The bill, which was submitted after the deadline for accepting new legislation, has an emergency clause that would allow it to take affect immediately if the measure becomes law.
The bill was not presented to him as being Biddeford specific, said Casavant.
Scarborough Downs spokesman Ed MacColl said the language is written to keep the options open if the endeavor fails to find support in Biddeford. If Biddeford voters and/or officials oppose the idea, the partners would look to locate elsewhere in southern Maine, he said.
“We’re not going to jam anything down anyone’s throat,” said MacColl.
However, said Ocean Properties spokesman Peter Connell, “Biddeford is certainly where we intended to locate.”
In 2010, developers proposed constructing a $120 million racino/hotel complex near the Maine Turnpike exit in Biddeford. They claimed the project would provide 800 construction jobs and 500 permanent, full-time jobs.
Though Biddeford voters supported the proposal in a municipal election in 2010, it was defeated in a statewide vote the following year.
Despite agreeing to co-sponsor the bill, Casavant said that didn’t mean he wouldn’t necessarily support a racino project in Biddeford.
“I like some of the bill, but at the same time, I remain skeptical,” he said.
The mayor said he signed on because it would ensure him a seat at the table.
“If the council and people of Biddeford want to go down this route,” said Casavant, “we have to ensure we get the best possible deal.”
The last time around, he said, “one of the problems was that the public felt it was rushed.”
Another objection, said Casavant, was that since there were so many gambling proposals on the table at that time, including one in Lewiston and one in Calais, he felt there was a lot of pressure placed on legislators from both sides.
Now, he added, “The timing is better.”
A couple of years ago, said Casavant, he was concerned that a racino on the outskirts of the city would have a negative effect on the downtown.
But he said he believes there is more stability in the city center with the closure of the Maine Energy Recovery Company waste-to-energy incinerator and the imminent demolition of that facility, as well as the upswing of development in the mill district.
Finally, said the mayor, the prospect of a significant injection of funds to city coffers, both from new property taxes and a percentage of gaming proceeds, would help keep property taxes down for residents.
Connell said he hopes the bill is approved this session.
MacColl said he would like that also, but anticipates “this bill is going to be a process.”
Gov. Paul LePage’s spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said she didn’t foresee any reaction from the governor on the issue unless the bill is enacted by the Legislature.
In 2011, the governor’s position was that he wanted voters across the state to decide whether to allow more racinos or casinos in Maine.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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