The law requires all Atlantic City casinos to give the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) 1.25 percent of their gross gaming revenue (GGR). The CRDA uses gaming taxes to aid initiatives that will improve the lives of Atlantic City communities. Also, it can support events and projects that catalyze positive change in the region.
The CRDA’s main goal is to improve the lives of people in the casino beach town. It recently declared its intention to make many funding allocations, including to the Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Atlantic County. The CRDA will give it $685,000 to help the Family Service to continue providing excellent outpatient counseling service to Atlantic City residents.
It will use the money in three years to offer mental health support. Still, the grant will finance vital health services, especially unsatisfied needs during the global health crisis, according to Sean Pattwell, CRDA Executive Director.
JFS officials state that the Coronavirus pandemic increased the need to have extra mental health resources. They say that the number of people battling depression rose by 87 percent in the Q4 of 2021, and those with post-traumatic stress disorder rose by 54 percent. Also, the number of men prone to addiction increased by 80 percent.
The CRDA Allocations
The CRDA isn’t focusing on JFS only. It signed an 18-month deal with an Atlantic City marketing company, Masterpiece Advertising, for $1.125 million in advertising services.
It signed another $116,000 deal with CTM Media Group, a Pennsylvania marketing group that concentrates on tourism and visitor information. They will create and distribute the Atlantic City Restaurant Week program and the 2023 Atlantic City Visitor Map.
The CRDA gave the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation $200,000 to organize ten jazz concerts in three years and $280,000 to JudiLudi Productions to create a show called “Broadway on the Boardwalk” at Kennedy Plaza and $50,000 to JFS.
It gave the National Rhythm and Blues Music Society almost $190,000 to hold three concerts in summer at Gardner’s Basin and $186,200 to fund the Atlantic City 2022 Summer Concert Series called “Mardi Gras AC.” The CRDA also revealed that the new Ernest Trans School of Trucking will get a $75,000 grant to cover tuition fees for 15 students. It will offer the school a $210,000 low-interest loan to buy trailers and three cabs.
The school is scheduled to start operating in July, and it was the only bidder to create the training program on the Bader Field’s grounds. It is an executive airport that halted all air activities in 2006.
The CRDA Funds Diversion Bill Halts
Many people in Atlantic City criticize the CRDA claiming that it ought to direct its 1.25 percent gaming tax revenue to residents to cut down property taxes. State Senator Troy Singleton introduced Senate Bill 854 in March 2022, that would redirect the CRDA’s sports gaming tax to Atlantic City.
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee narrowly passed the bill 3-2 in March. But, the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee hasn’t approved it yet. The state’s Office of Legislative Services claims that if the bill passes and Governor Phil Murphy signs it, it will offer Atlantic City $2 million to $4 million annual property tax relief.
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