The University System of Maryland Board of Regents unanimously approved a resolution Friday that supports bringing slots to the state.
The board that oversees 11 universities and more than 150,000 students said it desperately needs the revenues to offset tough economic times. Voters will decide on slots in a November referendum.
“In spite of the uncertain economy — or even perhaps because of it — the demand on our students is up,” said David Nevins, a Board of Regents member. “Obviously, as everyone knows, these things require money.”
The state is facing a budget deficit of at least $500 million, and as much as $1 billion, according to an Aug. 27 letter from Warren Deschenaux, director of the Office of Policy Analysis.
The university system estimated that new construction would cost $2.5 billion in the next five years and $5.3 billion in the next decade.
Slots could provide the system $250 million annually, said William “Brit” Kirwin, chancellor of the system. As of now, the system’s operating budget only would gain about $60 million from corporate income tax, he said.
Slots opponents, however, say that gambling will hurt college students.
“It’s not a way to fund education, for the state to have to make losers of its citizens,” said Barbara Knickelbein, co-chairperson of No Casino Maryland. “I was educated at a time when tax money paid for my education. We didn’t need slot machines to do it.”
Knickelbein said revenues from the federal government’s Base Realignment and Closure plan, which is expected to eventually bring 60,000 new jobs to the state, is a better way to bolster the economy.
Former Maryland Gov. Marvin Mandel, a board member, said Maryland may need to do more than slots to generate revenue.
“It’s going to require a little bit more than a resolution,” he said.
