In the latest brochure promoting the casino in Sanford, the following statement is made: “$100 million in new tax revenue.”

“The resort casino will generate nearly $50 million per year in new education funding for Maine’s schools and universities. An additional nearly $50 million per year will be dedicated to residential property tax relief, which will ease the state’s second-worst-in-the-nation tax burden.”

Are these claims true?

1. Does nearly $50 million and nearly $50 million add up to $100 million as claimed or near $100 million? Just how much will the state receive? Who knows?

2. Education funding comes from the state’s general fund and that is decided by the politicians in Augusta, not the casino. These funds will not be dedicated to education.

3. “…nearly $50 million will be dedicated to residential property tax relief.” This statement is a lie. Again, the money will go into the state’s general fund and how, and for what, it is spent will be decided by the politicians. The casino cannot dedicate funds. You can be guaranteed if the casino is built, your taxes will not go down.

4. Finally, there is a truth in their statement that is highlighted above. Maine is “the second-worst-in-the-nation” taxing state. If we all want real economic growth, we must demand that the politicians lower the tax burden on Maine citizens and businesses and make the state more business friendly.

Do your homework, get the facts.

Al Barth, Bethel