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03/28/2024 11:23 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20190&cosponId=32587
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House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: October 20, 2020 02:17 PM
From: Representative Frank Burns
To: All House members
Subject: Freezing senior citizens' property taxes by expanding video gaming
 
Senior citizens struggle each year to pay their ever-increasing property tax bills on a fixed income while other costs of living also continue to increase.  At the same time, hundreds of restaurants, bars and clubs are struggling to keep their doors open in large part due to closure orders and COVID-19 mitigation efforts imposed on them.

To ease the financial strain on both of these groups, I plan to introduce legislation that would expand video gaming terminals (VGTs) to many liquor licensed establishments.  This will provide much-needed additional revenue to many small businesses and will generate new tax revenue to freeze property taxes for senior citizens.  A portion of the taxes and fees collected will also go toward gaming enforcement, gambling addiction treatment and grants to local municipalities.  

VGTs were authorized for play in truck stops and are generating thousands of dollars each month.  However, comparable unregulated games are currently in bars, taverns and pizza shops across the state.  My legislation would provide needed clarity on VGTs – a move supported by the Pennsylvania State Police – and establish consistent regulations, licensing fees and taxes. 

Please join me in sponsoring this legislation, which provides a win-win solution for our senior citizens and the mom-and-pop businesses in our communities.