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Gov. Patrick To Ask Tribal Casino Developer To Pay Back Funds Spent On Route 24 Road Work

Posted on May 20th, 2010

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The state will require the developer of the proposed tribal casino in Fall River to reimburse the almost $35 million the government has spent on road work improvements off Route 24 if the city allows a casino to be constructed on that site which has long been earmarked for a biotechnology park for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. This was announced by Gov. Deval Patrick’s top aide, Economic Development Secretary Gregory Bialecki yesterday.

The governor was obviously peeved at Fall River officials who for several years talked the state into spending more than $50 million in taxpayer money for infrastructure improvements for a proposed “BioPark”, and then suddenly announced Monday that they have agreed to allow the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to build a tribal casino on the site intended for the bioprocessing plant.

Bialecki said the governor’s office was not informed of the city officials’ change of course and the tribe’s casino proposal before their official announcement Monday. Bialecki said the government was not fuming over the casino proposal, but it is of the opinion that if the site will be used for a casino, the developers, and not the public, should pay for improvements that would benefit the gaming facility.

Bialecki said the government will finish the ongoing work on the highway ramp off Route 24 because on the whole it will help boost development in the region. Still, he said, the administration believes that the developers should pay for any public infrastructure upgrades that would promote the gambling facility. This attitude is in line with the governor’s view as laid down in his earlier gambling bill, Bialecki said.

Numerous calls made yesterday to Fall River Mayor William Flanagan asking for his statement were not returned. However, a Wampanoag spokesman who was asked if the tribe would pay back the state government the money spent for the road work merely said that the highway ramp would be of use not only to the casino but also to other real estate owners in Fall River.

A provision in a law in 2002 passing on the land reserved for the BioPark to Fall River specifically prohibits its use for a casino development. The restriction can be reversed only by a state legislative act. A spokesman for the tribe said the restriction is only one of “several legal hurdles” the tribe must straighten, but said those problems won’t discourage the tribe from moving ahead with the project. He said the tribe is convinced that the restriction will ultimately be cancelled if Fall River decides on a casino on the site.

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth chancellor Jean MacCormack issued a letter which said, in part, “The City’s decision to abandon development of a BioPark in favor of a resort casino profoundly affects the university’s decision-making about a suitable location for our facility. Any delay in starting the project triggers a risk that state funding might be rescinded, so timing is important.’’ The state had already given its assurance for a $15 million funding for the facility, plus another $2 million for road improvements.

The BioPark , to be situated on the 300-acre site, has been planned for ten years. It was to be developed into a centre of private investment in a city that is now hounded by unemployment. The large-scale plan was what motivated Gov. Patrick to allow the use of $34.7 million in state and federal stimulus funds for construction of the Route 24 off-ramp to the site where the biotech park is to be built.

Bialecki also said yesterday that he would have to confirm yet with the governor’s office if the state would also demand repayment for a $47 million 1,900 space parking garage that is being constructed in Revere that could benefit potential casino developers in Suffolk Downs. A bill recently passed the Massachusetts House that authorized two casinos in the state and allowed slot machines at the state’s four race tracks. The Senate is now writing its own version of the bill. Sites for casinos are now being proposed, including Milford, Palmer, New Bedford and Suffolk Downs.