Baltimore Casino Local Development Council (LDC)

The LDC is the body appointed by the Mayor to advise the City on developing the multi-year and annual spending plans for Casino Local Impact Grant (LIG) funds that accrue to Baltimore as a tax on revenues from electronic slot machines, or “video lottery terminals” (VLT’s), at casinos in Maryland for the benefit of communities in “immediate proximity” to the casino in South Baltimore.

 

As is required by Maryland State Code § 9-1A-31, “prior to the expenditure of LIG funds,” the City “shall develop, in consultation with the LDC, a multiyear plan for the expenditure of the local impact grant funds for services and improvements.” The City “shall submit the plan to the LDC for review and comment before adopting the plan or expending any grant funds.” In 2015, the City created and adopted the South Baltimore Gateway Master Plan as the guiding document for future expenditure of LIG funds.

 

“The local development council shall advise the county or municipality on the impact of the facility on the communities and the needs and priorities of the communities in immediate proximity to the facility.” The LDC “shall have 45 days to review, comment, and make recommendations on the plan. The City shall make best efforts to accommodate the recommendations of the local development council before adopting the plan.”

 

In 2016 the State of Maryland and Mayor and City Council of Baltimore created the South Baltimore Casino Impact District Management Authority, which operates under the name South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, or SBGP. Since 2017, the State directs one half or fifty percent of LIG funds dedicated for South Baltimore (an amount equal to the allocation for the City of Baltimore) to SBGP, which is overseen by an independent Board of Directors. The Mayor and City Council President are each allowed to appoint two representatives to SBGP’s Board of Directors. SBPG submits its annual spending plan and quarterly updates to the Baltimore City Board of Estimates.

LDC members are appointed or confirmed by the Mayor for terms of one (1) year, that start with the calendar year. Members may serve up to six (6) one-year consecutive terms.

 

Per Maryland State Code § 9-1A-31, the composition of the LDC is as follows:

 

∙ One (1) one Senator who represents the district (46th) where the facility is located or the Senator’s designee;
∙ Two (2) Delegates who represent the districts (46th and 40th) where the communities surrounding the facility are located or the Delegates’ designees;
∙ One (1) representative of the video lottery operation licensee (i.e., the casino located in South Baltimore);
∙ Seven (7) residents of the communities in immediate proximity;
∙ Four (4) representatives of businesses or institutions located in immediate proximity to the facility.