Candidates say casino revenue a top issue for next Des Plaines mayor
How Des Plaines spends its future casino revenues will be a top priority for the next mayor, say the four candidates vying for the job.
Longtime city residents Mike Lake, 2nd Ward Alderman Martin Moylan, former 4th Ward alderman Dick Sayad and Mark Thompson will duke it out April 7 to replace Mayor Tony Arredia, who is being forced out by term limits.
Des Plaines is anticipating a roughly $9 million windfall yearly in gambling revenues once Midwest Gaming & Entertainment's proposed casino comes online in 2011/2012.
Lake, 61, a retired precision machinist who ran unsuccessfully for 2nd Ward alderman in 2003 and again in 2007, said as mayor he would establish a committee to oversee how casino revenues are spent.
"Nobody knows exactly how this is going to play out in the future," Lake said. "The overall philosophy would be to monitor the income that we get from the casino and use it wisely and prioritize the expenditures."
Lake added the proposed casino's proximity to O'Hare International Airport makes security a top concern.
"There are going to be major concerns with the casino," he said. "You need to sit down with intelligent people and play, what if?"
With so much money at stake, candidates agreed having safeguards is important.
Moylan, 58, who's been on the city council for two years, said he would propose an ordinance barring city employees, including managers, from working at the casino while employed with the city.
He added the ordinance would also prohibit elected officials from working at the casino for a year after they leave office.
"We want to make sure we have the guidelines to ensure that our operation is transparent, so that we keep any of the issues out of there - crime, corruption, mob ties," Moylan said.
Moylan proposes to use casino revenues to retire the city's bonded debt, support area schools, make infrastructure improvements, enhance senior programs and limit tax increases.
Thompson, 53, former Maine Township supervisor and an attorney, said he too is concerned about making sure the casino is a clean operation and doesn't adversely affect the city's reputation.
"In terms of handling the money, I think we have to make a decision that this is not going to be used for funding city government operations and any type of ongoing programs because casino revenue is unstable revenue," Thompson said.
Some of that money could be used for street improvements, upgrading sewers and water lines, providing social services, and paying off debt, he said.
Sayad, 65, who owns a computer firm and served eight years on the city council before leaving in 2007 because of term limits, says the city got shortchanged on the casino deal.
Des Plaines is expected to receive about $25 million a year from the casino, of which $10 million a year must go to the state as part of the deal that landed the casino license. Forty percent of the remainder will go to economically depressed towns in Cook County.
Sayad said when he was on the council, the developer promised the city a bigger take of the revenues.
"We projected that we will be getting between $21 and $24 million a year," he said.
Yet, Sayad added, casino revenues are not his main concern.
"That money is not coming until 2011-2012," Sayad said. "I'm concerned about 2009, 2010 and 2011. I can't say we're going to use the money for projects. If that money doesn't materialize, then what? The world is in a financial dilemma. We need businessmen who can run this city."