Information on Main’s Question 1 You May Want to Know
One of the responsibilities of voting is knowing what you’re voting for. There are a variety of questions voters will be asked and these questions may vary depending on state and county. This coming November 7, 2017, residents in Main will have several things to consider, starting with question 1. Before deciding how you want to vote, the first question to ask is what is question 1?
What is the Goal of Question 1?
If question 1 in Maine is passed it will allow a gaming and entertainment facility to be build in York County. This facility will also contain a convention center which will create a space for a variety of events to take place. These events will include everything from community events and concerts, to fairs, farmer’s markets, and more.
What Are the Possible Benefits of Yes on Question 1?
After you know the answer to what is question 1 about, the next question you may have may be what are the benefits to voting yes to the creation of this entertainment and gaming center. There are two main expected benefits that may interest you. The creation of more revenue for the state without having to raise taxes, and the creation of a large amount of jobs.
Most people would agree that they would like to see more revenue for the programs that matter to them without the added burden of additional taxes. The gaming center proposed to be built in York County may be one possible solution for this. The projected revenue for this center is estimated to reach around $248.1 million within the first five years. This revenue, should the center be approved, is supposed to go to a variety of programs including those for veterans, Native American tribes, healthcare, education, scholarships, agriculture, senior citizens, and more. It is also expected that the added traffic to and from the center will possibly extend the tourist season for the host town, and bring more sales to local businesses.
The other expectation for positive benefits, is the increase in jobs. There will be an estimated 2,767 construction related positions open during the building stages alone. Afterwards it is estimated that approximately 2,165 permanent positions will be available. These positions may include everything from management and security, to food and customer service, meaning that people with various skill sets may be able to find a position suited to them.
How Will This Gaming and Entertainment Center compare to Others?
The Gaming and entertainment center proposed by question 1 in Maine will be different from similar centers in Oxford and Bangor in several ways. The allocation of the expected generated revenue is broken up differently although the center proposed for York County still has many of the same allocations for its revenue as the other two. These include allocations for Department of Education K-12 essential programs, the University of Maine and MMA Scholarship fund, the tribal governments of the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribes, and agricultural fairs among others. However its distribution numbers have been adjusted to also include the Municipal Property Tax Relief, funding for drug education initiatives, the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund, and funding DHS for the aging and disability services programs. If you would like to see the numbers for yourself there is an economic impact study done by Evans, Carroll & Associates, based in Florida, that has been made available.
Now that you know the answer to "what is question 1", you can start to decide how you feel about it. Use the information provided in the article and continue to seek the answers to any other questions you may have to help make up your mind. Remember, you can cast your vote November 7, 2017.
