Levinson: Atlantic County Hasn't Been Contacted About Next Casino PILOT

ATLANTIC CITY — With Atlantic City's current casino payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement eventually set to expire, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson says county officials have yet to hear from Trenton about what comes next.

And Levinson says Atlantic County will be prepared for another fight if county taxpayers aren't treated fairly.

"We as a county have heard nothing," Levinson said Wednesday during an appearance on Klein Time with Dan Klein on WOND.

Levinson said he is aware of discussions about the future of the casino PILOT, including a proposal he attributed to state Sen. Vince Polistina to establish a more permanent arrangement rather than repeatedly revisiting the issue when an agreement expires.

Levinson said he isn't opposed to another PILOT agreement in principle.

His issue is how Atlantic County taxpayers are treated under it.

"I don't happen to agree with that unless we get equity for our taxpayers," Levinson said.

County's Previous PILOT Battle

The issue is particularly significant because of Atlantic County's lengthy legal battle with the state over its share of casino PILOT revenue.

Levinson said the county repeatedly prevailed in court and eventually secured approximately $59 million for Atlantic County taxpayers.

"We won every single time, which makes us believe that perhaps we're right," Levinson said. "And if we're right, then we'll be right in the future."

Levinson said the county spent approximately $1 million on the legal fight that ultimately produced the $59 million payment.

"I don't think it was a gift," he said. "We had to fight for it."

The county executive emphasized that he isn't looking to undermine Atlantic City's casino industry.

"If they need a PILOT, and I don't want casinos to close. I don't want people thrown out of work," Levinson said. "All I'm asking them to do is to make it equitable."

His argument is that casinos provide an economic benefit that extends throughout New Jersey, yet Atlantic County taxpayers shouldn't be expected to shoulder an unfair share of the cost of tax concessions designed to protect the industry.

"Do casinos benefit the whole state? Absolutely," Levinson said. "There's no question in anybody's mind."

"If that's the case, why should it be only the Atlantic County taxpayer that has to subsidize the casino? That's not fair."

Levinson noted that Atlantic County includes residents at both ends of the economic spectrum and said his responsibility is to represent all of them.

"I fight for them and I fight for the people that live along the beach in Longport," Levinson said. "And we need equity."

He then offered a message directly to state lawmakers.

"If anybody is listening in the Legislature, I'm not going to fight you on the PILOT if you treat us fairly."

'Not One Single Person' Has Reached Out

Klein asked Levinson whether he expects Atlantic County to have a seat at the table when the next casino tax agreement is developed.

Levinson made clear he believes it should.

He also offered one of the interview's more memorable comments about his history of battling Trenton over the issue.

"When I was in my 70s, they were waiting for me to die, so this would go away," Levinson said. "I'm now 80."

"And, you know, it didn't please them. I'm still here. And as long as I'm here, I want to fight them for the people that I represent here in this county."

Despite the previous litigation and settlement, Levinson said there has been no outreach from state government about the next agreement.

"Not one single person in the Legislature or in the governor's office or anywhere else has contacted me as county executive or any one of our nine commissioners over this," Levinson said.

For Levinson, the message heading into another potential round of casino PILOT negotiations is straightforward: Atlantic County isn't opposed to helping maintain a healthy casino industry.

But he says county taxpayers won't accept being asked to pay an unfair share of the price.