SANFORD – If Mainers vote to legalize a casino on Nov. 4, the hourly pay of casino jobs would likely be lower than the average pay in Maine. But, when tips are included, the compensation would be higher, according to a new study by former state economist and University of Southern Maine economics professor Charles Colgan.

On average, casino jobs would pay $11.53 an hour, compared to the average hourly pay in Maine of $13.53 (in 2002). But when tip income is added, the casino jobs are projected to be, on average, 94 cents an hour higher than the state average, or $14.47, Colgan concluded in the report, which was released Wednesday by the pro-casino campaign. Colgan was hired by the campaign to do the study.

Colgan also concluded that the casino jobs would pay more than similar hospitality jobs in Maine.

Colgan was asked to compare the projected casino salaries to the salaries of other jobs in Maine. He based his report on state and federal labor statistics, and on the Klas Robinson study of the proposed casino, also paid for by casino backers.

The campaign also announced Wednesday that two job fairs – one in Lewiston and another in Sanford – will be held Oct. 11 and 13. (See related story.) Erin Lehane of the pro-casino Think About It campaign has said the casino would create 4,470 full-time jobs in Sanford, plus 5,000 additional jobs throughout Maine.

Even with limitations in the study, including a 5 percent margin of error, “it is clear that the casino will provide compensation that is highly competitive with existing wages for similar occupations and industries in both southern Maine and the state as a whole,” Colgan said in his report.

And the benefits package offered to casino workers “appears to rank as one of the most complete in comparison with the average benefits package offered to most Maine workers,” Colgan concluded.

Full-time benefits would include health insurance, including eye and dental, child care, life insurance and a 401K pension plan. Part-time workers – the definition for part-time workers has not yet been determined – would have to pay more health insurance costs and not be eligible for the pension plan.

But members of the campaign fighting a casino in Maine said there are problems with Colgan’s conclusions.

“Problem No. 1 is that it’s not based on an independent study, it’s based on a study paid by the casino backers,” said Valerie Landry, former state commissioner of Labor under Gov. Angus King.

“Problem No. 2 is it’s based on averages, which is never a good indicator of what most people are going to make,” Landry said. Using averages takes high and low salaries and puts them together, which could be misleading in terms of what people are going to be paid, she said.

Thirdly, she said, the wages projected are not contained in the legal language that people are voting on. “There’s no way to know what’s actually going to be paid people. There’s no guarantee,” Landry said.

And, she said, the average wage of all Maine workers is more than $14 an hour. “So these jobs appear to be lower than average jobs in Maine.”

Kenneth Curtis, a casino supporter and former Maine governor, disagreed Wednesday, saying Colgan’s report shows that a casino holds “real opportunity” for Mainers.

“The fact that this comes from Charles Colgan lends some credibility,” Curtis said. “He’s a well-respected economist. These numbers should dispel any questions about the wages paid and benefits to employees. They’re higher than comparable wages from what I read.”

It’s important to remember that many Mainers may be employed, but don’t make a livable wage, Curtis said. “Underemployment in Maine has been one of the basic problems for generations.”

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