Arlington Heights residents both for and against a plan to put slots machines at Arlington Park shared their views at the village board meeting Monday night.
But local officials said the residents need to take their concerns to Gov. Pat Quinn as he considers whether to sign legislation that would put 1,200 slot machines at the racetrack as part of a larger expansion of gambling statewide.
If signed into law, the bill would also add a Chicago casino and four more in the state and would allow slot machines at Chicago’s two airports.
Quinn, who in the past has expressed concerns over gambling expansion, now might see the bill as a partial solution to the state’s deep financial problems. He had not indicated as of Tuesday when or whether he will sign the bill, veto it or attempt to modify it with an amendatory veto.
“Unfortunately, this decision has never been in the hands of this board, and it’s certainly not now,” said Trustee Thomas Hayes in response to speakers Monday night.
Hayes is on record as supporting a limited number of slots at the track during racing periods, but he is opposed to a separate building that would become a year-round casino.
Arlington Park officials have said the slots are needed to augment dwindling horseracing revenues. The park already is home to Trackside, an off-track betting facility.
Hayes urged the nine speakers — four supporting the slot machines at the racetrack and five against — to contact the governor’s office.
Anne Marie Lundstrom led off citizen comments on the issue, saying she agreed with a letter recently written by Mayor Arlene Mulder that indicates supports for the track and reaffirms its importance to the village.
Lundstrom called the track “that wonderful facility” where she and her husband went on dates before they moved to Arlington Heights 45 years ago. “We want it to stay. We don’t want it to close.”
Resident Mary Kay Baldino reflected the views of several residents who are concerned with the potential negative economic impact of expanded gambling and its effects on property values.
“If I had known this town would be the site of a casino, I would not have purchased a home here,” said Baldino, the mother of two young children.
Baldino, who also helps people relocate to Illinois as part of her work in human resources, told trustees their support of slots at the track was “penny wise and pound foolish.”
Pennies or pounds, there are lots of them, village director of finance Thomas Kuehne said.
“The village would lose about $800,000 a year if Arlington Park were to close,” he said Tuesday. Kuehne said that would be equivalent to 10 or 11 full-time staff positions.
In the last three years, the village has cut 46 positions — about 10 percent of its workforce — and Kuehne said further cuts would be difficult and would likely affect such essential services as fire and police protection and public works.
The alternative would be to add about $37 a year to the property tax bill for an average homeowner with a house with a market value of $300,000, now paying $7,000 to $7,500 a year in taxes.
Nancy Duel, who over the years has spoken many times against expanding gambling at the track, said Monday night there was really no reason to try to bring a crowd to the meeting.
“The board has spoken, the legislature has acted, and now it’s up to Governor Quinn,” said Duel, who remains firmly opposed to expanding gambling.
“The future of the people of Illinois is in the hands of the governor,” said Duel. “I’m betting on Gov. Quinn.”
