Indian Gaming

Newspaper welcomes decision that allows town in Connecticut to impose taxes on gaming vendors that do business with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation:

Only a few months after his November 2011 election, Ledyard Mayor John Rodolico faced a difficult decision. Should he urge the Town Council to press forward with a high-risk, high-reward lawsuit launched by his predecessors to capture disputed property tax revenues from the Foxwoods Resort Casino? Or should he cut the town's losses and move on?

Mayor Rodolico and the council chose to press on and this week enjoyed a sweet victory that over the long run should broaden the town's tax base and help pay for necessary services.

At issue was the ability of the town to assess and tax non-tribal personal property on the reservation. In particular, the federal case focused on hundreds of slot machines leased by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe for use in its casino. The legal point had broader implications, however, potentially having an impact on the town's ability to assess and tax other personal property in restaurants and retail outlets operating on the reservation.

Get the Story:
Editorial: Sweet legal victory for Ledyard, mayor (The New London Day 7/18)

2nd Circuit Decision:
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation v. Ledyard (July 15, 2013)

Related Stories:
Town plans to impose taxes on all non-Indian casino vendors (7/17)