A Casino Isn’t in the Cards, so City Orders Study of Bingo Tax
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Baldwin Park residents balked at a casino, so now the city is looking at taxing a more home-grown game of chance.
Mayor Bette Lowes asked the city staff Wednesday to investigate imposing a 1% tax on revenue from bingo games.
The city’s biggest bingo pot is generated by St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, whose parishioners turned out in force recently to protest the idea of bringing a card club to the city. City and church officials said the church made $200,000 in bingo proceeds last year.
Lowes was in favor of putting the card club on the ballot, but the idea was defeated 3 to 2 by the council.
Margarita Vargas, head of the church’s bingo committee, said the proceeds are used to keep tuition costs low at St. John the Baptist’s school.
“The mayor’s idea to tax bingo is vindictive and mean-spirited,” Vargas said. “I don’t feel it’s right to tax a nonprofit organization.”
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