Randy Clemens will pay about $1 million in taxes next year.
Bingo World, a Brooklyn Park bingo hall that Clemens manages, will see a 2.5 percent increase in its county tax rate, which could be paid for by higher game fees or lower payouts.
“We pay a lot in taxes, and now we?re going to be paying more,” he said, referring to the hall?s $700,000 tax bill. “Add 33 percent to what we currently pay, and that will be our bill.”
The Anne Arundel County Council unanimously approved the tax hike, which will have the county?s three bingo halls paying 10 percent of their gross revenue starting July 1.
The tax hike is part of County Executive John Leopold?s effort to create parity among amusement facilities in the county. Bingo halls paid only 7.5 percent of their revenue to the county.
County officials expect to earn an additional $300,000 to $400,000 a year from the increase, though Leopold said the amount may fluctuate depending on the prize level.
“I think it?s mutually beneficial to those involved,” Leopold said. “It will certainly be helpful to the county.”
Delta Bingo in Laurel and Wayson?s Bingo in Lothian also will be affected. Neither facility could be reached for comment Wednesday.
No one spoke out against the bill during its public hearing Monday, and the council did not comment on the bill.
The money will go into the general fund, from which the county draws its money to pay for services and departments, said Kurt Svendsen, the county?s assistant budget officer.
Leopold said the money would help offset cuts in contributions made to nonprofits in the county?s $1.2 billion proposed budget, which currently includes a 2.7 percent property tax rate reduction.
“There?s not much we can do about it,” Clemens said. “I hope they spend it wisely.”
