Canon-Mac, Meadows Tax Settlement Makes Best of ‘Terrible, Terrible Situation’

Canon-McMillan School Directors on Monday voted to approve a tax assessment settlement agreement with the Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

The terms of the settlement, set in a court-ordered mediation by Judge Scanlon on May 28, were approved in a 6-2 roll call vote. School directors Eric Kline and Manuel Pihakis voted against the settlement.

Despite being previously opposed to a settlement, school Director Joseph Zupancic said during the meeting that he would vote to approve the settlement — though he added, “I think [the settlement] is at most making the best of a terrible, terrible situation for this school district.”

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino appealed its tax assessment in 2009, seeking a figure $9.9 million less than the original assessment. The casino is the highest single taxpayer to Canon-McMillan School District, according to the Observer Reporter.

Monday night’s vote approved general terms for the settlement discussed during mediation, but before details are made public it first must be put into writing and approved by the county, school officials said.

Once finalized, Zupancic said it was his opinion the terms should be made public.

Canon-McMillan Patch filed a Right to Know request for the settlement agreement, but no further information was immediately available Monday night.