What would Saugerties get in return?
As tribal land, the 840-acre Winston Farm (at the junction of Routes 32 and 212, near Thruway exit 20) would be sovereign territory of the Seneca-Cayugas and thus exempt from property and sales taxes. The casino backers initially said they would not give money to Saugerties but would give $15 million for seven years to Ulster County, of which the town would have to seek part. After facing stiff community opposition, the backers upped their offer to $30 million a year, split between the county and town, for 20 years. However, the sovereign nation status of the casino means any promises cannot be legally enforced in U.S. courts. Furthermore, according to University of Illinois research, for every tax dollar taken in from gaming taxes, there is an outlay of three dollars for infrastructure costs, relatively high regulatory expenses, criminal justice system and social-welfare expenses.
