Political leaders in Atlantic County want any tax aid package for Atlantic City's casinos to also help taxpayers in the county.

Just before New Years Eve, the Atlantic County Board of Freeholders passed a resolution that calls on politicians in Trenton to make sure taxpayers are given equal consideration in any relief bills that are enacted. A package of Democrat-sponsored bills would let casinos make reduced payments in lieu of taxes and also help Atlantic City's municipal finances. But the county tax board predicts the plan would raise taxes on Atlantic County home and business owners. Freeholder Ernest Coursey tells The Press of Atlantic City, “We are all feeling the crunch. I’m not going to jump up and down to bail out the casinos.”

The resolution was added to the agenda in response to a plan that was announced by Senate President Steve Sweeney and State Sen. Jim Whelan that would allow the casinos in the city to pay a collective $150 million payment in lieu of taxes rather than real estate taxes based on their assessed property value.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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