Atlantic County Freeholders Worried Efforts To Save Atlantic City Could Cost Taxpayers
By David Madden
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) - As New Jersey wrestles with how to bring Atlantic City back from the brink of financial collapse in the wake of four casino closings in a year's time, freeholders in Atlantic County want a seat at the table.
It's not that the county doesn't support the concept of helping Atlantic City. Far from it actually, according to John Risley -- vice-chair of the freeholder board:
"We're very concerned about the taxpayers of the other 22 municipalities in Atlantic County, and we don't want to see them unnecessarily burdened by a plan to bail out Atlantic City."
A resolution unanimously passed this week by the nine-member board (seven Republicans and two Democrats) called on the state legislature to work with them to make sure tax breaks for casinos don't turn into tax increases for homeowners.
Risley believes Atlantic City needs to get its own fiscal house in order before seeking help elsewhere, and insists, so far, the county's been on the outside looking in as a rescue plan is drawn up.
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