Dear Representative:Arizona lawmakers have clearly worked hard to create a budget in these difficult times. However, it appears that lawmakers have turned a blind eye to millions of dollars in revenue that would benefit Arizona families.Greyhound racing does not pay taxes on live handle racing or simulcast betting. While the two out-of-state owners of Tucson Greyhound Park make millions, they pay no pari-mutuel taxes to Arizona. Back in 1994-1995, they paid $1,090.295 in pari-mutuel taxes; yet not one penny since 1996. From 1989 through 2007 their total track revenue was $96,609,022.According to a 2007 audit, the partners had never filed individual Arizona income tax returns; nor had their management company. But the owners did pay themselves a management fee of $2.2 million!House Majority Whip Andy Tobin has shown interest in allowing horse and dog tracks to have as many slot machines as they want along with blackjack and poker games. More free-for-all gambling is not the answer. Excessive gambling leads to unemployment, loss of income, bankruptcy, and emotional stress on families. Rather than put more gambling venues in place, our lawmakers should start by taxing the greyhound racetracks and treat them just like other businesses. Greyhound racing should pay to play.Taxing the greyhound racetracks will not end the budget crisis, but since 1995 the state of Arizona has lost an estimated $44 million in uncollected revenue from all Arizona greyhound tracks (source: Arizona Department of Racing Annual Reports).There are other problems with dog racing, and Tucson Dog Protection intends to share that information with you, but because your focus has been on the budget, they too will focus on finances. For budgetary fairness, please strongly consider taxing simulcasting, removing the track’s tax credits, and examining why Tucson Greyhound Park’s owners are not filing state tax returns. Respectfully,Tucson Dog Protection
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