I believe we need to understand the law and use it to our benefit.

Come on Bill. The law gives no direct benefit to OPA. None. As it stands, now that the board has folded, all OPA can do is go to the Council with requests for funds for impacts that meet the criteria of the bill. The County Commissioners will then have final say even if Council approves.

What specific financial impacts will OPA have to justify a request? Since you are saying we use the Council as provided in the law, just what we will ask the Council? As I see it the only shots for OPA are the police here, and possible money going to Worcester County for the OPA sanitary district. Does anyone think OPA will get more than the potential $1 million or more at stake yearly, or that lot owners will see their water and sewer charged reduced by the county. I won't hold my breath.

Of course Ocean City and Berlin will not have to ask anyone. In fact, since OC and Berlin don't appear to even come under the idea of Council approval, they would not be restricted to spending only for the items in in Section B shown below. What is really interesting about the bill is that OC is already getting 20% but THEN is a major player in appointing members of the Council to help decide whether requests to county are approved.

This bill is not fair to Ocean Pines.

Here's what the bill says:

(II) IF THE VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITY IS AT A RACE TRACK
LOCATION AT THE OCEAN DOWNS RACE COURSE, THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF WORCESTER COUNTY AND THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF
OCEAN CITY SHALL JOINTLY APPOINT THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

(D) (1) PRIOR TO ANY EXPENDITURE OF LOCAL IMPACT GRANT
FUNDS PROVIDED UNDER § 9–1A–27 OF THIS SUBTITLE, A COUNTY OR
MUNICIPALITY SHALL DEVELOP, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, A MULTIYEAR PLAN FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF THE
LOCAL IMPACT GRANT FUNDS FOR SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS CONSISTENT
WITH SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION.

Section B says:

(B) LOCAL IMPACT GRANTS PROVIDED UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1) (I)
OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE USED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES IN
IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY TO THE VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITIES AND MAY BE USED
FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
(1) INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS;
(2) FACILITIES;
(3) PUBLIC SAFETY;
(4) SANITATION;
(5) ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING
HOUSING; AND
(6) OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS.

Here's link to entire bill for others: Slots-hb0003t.pdf