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NOVEMBER 29, 2000

On Tuesday, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation released a study which credits them with helping improve the Connecticut economy.

Along with Governor John G. Rowland, the tribe presented the report at a press conference yesterday in Hartford. The tribe commissioned the University of Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis to create the report, who analyzed economic data using a computer model.

Among other contributions, the report says the tribe has created over 40,000 jobs. About 13,000 are employed directly by Foxwoods Resort Casino, which the tribe opened in 1993.

The report also credits the tribe with adding $1.2 billion to the state economy annually. The tribe contributes 25 percent of its slot machine revenues to the state itself and as of August 2000, the total amount was $1,136,419,110, or about $1.1 billion.

Naturally, the positive effects the small, 650-member tribe have had on the state don't come without criticism. In particular, three towns located next to the tribe's reservation in southeastern Connecticut have complained about the environmental and social impacts of living next to the world's largest casino.

The state distributes some of the money it receives from the Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe, the state's other gaming tribe, to 169 municipalities. But preference is given to communities in need and those with more tax-free property.

This means the towns of Ledyard, North Stonington, and Preston receive less money than communities further away from the state's two tribal casinos. This year, Preston will receive $956,000 in gaming money this year, the most of the three towns next to the Mashantucket reservation.

But while the towns complain of increased crime, decreased property values, and heightened traffic, they too have seen economic conditions improve. For the past four years, unemployment in the towns has been consistently lower than the statewide average, the average selling price of homes has increased, and retail sales are up.

During the same time period, the tribe has also been the biggest taxpayer in North Stonington and the second largest in both Ledyard and Preston. The money has helped raised revenues for each of the town's governmental operations, just as some of the town leaders ask residents to approve more money to fight the federal recognition of two other Pequot tribes.

Along with state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the towns also continue their fight against the expansion of the Mashantucket reservation. Having lost an appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the group is asking the Supreme Court to consider their case.

Get Town Data:
Ledyard Town Profile: 1998-1999 [PDF 25k] (Conn Dept of Economic and Community Development)
North Stonington Town Profile: 1998-1999 [PDF 25k] (Conn Dept of Economic and Community Development)
Preston Town Profile: 1998-1999 [PDF 25k] (Conn Dept of Economic and Community Development)

Related Stories;
Town approves more anti-Pequot money (Tribal Law 11/28)
Towns to appeal Pequot ruling (Tribal Law 11/07)

Relevant Links:
The Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis - www.lib.uconn.edu/ccea
Foxwoods Resort Casino - www.foxwoods.com
Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center - www.mashantucket.com