EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. -- The East Greenbush Town Board passed a resolution in support of a casino on Thursday.
Residents have been split on the idea of building a casino; some saying residents haven’t had enough say in where the casino would be built. Others are looking forward to the possible influx of jobs and boost to the town’s economy.
The plan became public in April when developers announced their interest in building a $300 million casino on Thompson Hill Road. Saratoga Casino and Raceway has partnered with Churchill Downs.
Developers said the casino would bring 1,700 construction jobs and another 1,700 jobs once the casino opens. They also said the town would benefit from sales tax and property tax.
“This project could create quite an economic boom for the town and provide for tax relief,” Town Supervisor Keith Langley said.
There is less than a month to go before final proposals for casinos are due on June 30. The state gaming commission, the group tasked with selecting where casinos will go, said it won’t consider a casino license application without the resolution.
There are 18 groups vying for four licenses that will be granted in the Capital Region, Finger Lakes Region and the Catskills.
The county legislature in a unanimous vote approved the casino proposal in Schenectady. The Galesi Group and Rush Street Gaming have proposed a casino resort at the old Alco site along the Mohawk River.
The community of Cobleskill has given support for the proposed casino at Howe Caverns. The town board has unanimously passed a resolution backing a casino to be specifically sited at the caverns.
Council members in Amsterdam also want to be considered as a site. That proposed project is being backed by Florida Acquisition Corp.
The casino there would be off Thruway exit 27, straddling Amsterdam and the town of Florida.
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