Meade High Nets $3 Million From Casino Taxes

Tax revenue from the Maryland Live! Casino resulted in $20 million in grants to local groups, including $3 million to Meade High and funds for to support a health and community center in Severn. 

The grants come following recommendations from the Local Development Council, which is charged with allocating casino tax revenue. Top grants include $7 million to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, $3.7 million to Anne Arundel Community College and nearly $3 million to Anne Arundel County Police. 

Grants include $1.9 million toward a community and health complex on Reece Road, to be operated by Peoples Community Health Centers. Jessup Elementary School also got $600,000 and the Provinces Library got $500,00. 

Details on the grants were announced Wednesday during an event at the casino featuring casino executives, County Executive Laura Neuman and other public officials. 

The $20 million for fiscal year 2014 will break down as follows: 

• Anne Arundel County Fire Department - $7,000,000
• Anne Arundel Community College  - $3,700,000
• Meade High School - $3,000,000
• Anne Arundel County Police Department - $2,700,000
• People’s Community Health Centers - $1,900,000 (includes $1.4 million from FY 2013)
• Transportation/Public Safety Funds to be allocated - $1,500,000
• Jessup Elementary School - $600,000
• Anne Arundel County Public Library – Provinces Branch $500,000
• BWI Partnership $150,000
• Anne Arundel Workforce Development $100,000

The $20 million also includes $250,000 in community support grants. The deadline to apply for these grants is October 31. 

The $7 million for the fire department will be used to support the Severn, Jessup and Harmans-Dorsey fire stations. The department will also get a Basic Life Support ambulance to the Harmans-Dorsey Station and will add 10 new personnel to staff the unit. 

"Nothing makes us prouder than to see these funds supporting and enhancing communities in our area,” said Joe Weinberg, managing partner of the Cordish Companies, in a press release. “In addition to employing thousands of people at Maryland Live! Casino, we have the opportunity to make a tremendous impact on the lives of tens of thousands of people in our community for many years to come with  the distribution of these grants."

Money for the grants stems directly from taxes on slots revenue at Maryland Live! The casino is require to pay 5.5 percent of its revenue to local impact grants. This resulted in $16,547,611 in calendar year 2013, and more than $1.9 million raised in August alone.