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South Carolina deal slammed

SOUTH CAROLINA – As reported by the Myrtle Beach Sun News: " Political sparks flew Monday as Horry County Council prepared for a final vote on a 10-year contract with the casino boat industry.

"A Little River councilman and a state lawmaker called the contract a `sweetheart deal' that will hurt Little River and said they will ask the courts to examine whether it's legal.

"Councilman Harold Worley and Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, aired the criticisms at a press conference Monday at the county justice center.

"Florida-based SunCruz Casino shot back, saying it's being unfairly attacked after agreeing to pay the county $23 million over a decade and recently spending $1 million to improve the Little River waterfront docks.

"County Council meets Tuesday night to make a final decision on the casino boat industry contract, which allows gambling operations in Little River to expand in exchange for a decade-long per passenger boarding fee that would begin at $5 and increase to $6 in five years.

"…Little River's two gambling boats attract about 275,000 visitors to the waterfront each year and the county estimates the proposed boarding fee will generate at least $1.37 million per year.

"Worley and Edge say the county should tax the industry's gross gambling proceeds as allowed under a state law passed last year…"

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