Taunton Banking On Casino Money To Help Fix Fire-Damaged City Hall
BOSTON (CBS) - The city of Taunton is banking on casino money to get City Hall back up and running.
The building has been closed for two years, since an arson fire damaged it. The city says right now, they just don't have the money to fix it.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
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Most of city offices have been temporarily moved to an old former school building. Mayor Tom Hoye says it's frustrating, but there's not much he can do.
"We have to weigh how much we're going to get back in insurance money, obviously some of the money went into a temporary city hall, for lack of a better term," he said. "There's many issues, simply we'd have to bond the project and we just don't have it within our budget at this time. We have to figure out how we're going to pay for it."
Repairs could cost up to $12 million dollars. Advocates say a casino in Taunton would help pay for a good portion of that.
No arrests have been made in that fire.
However, immediately following the fire, sources noted Michael O'Donnell of Raynham's ongoing feud with the city and pointed out that he was in the building when the fire broke out.
O'Donnell was actually arrested recently over accusations that he was stealing electricity in Raynham.
