Canon-Mac School District Owes Meadows $2.9 Million Under Terms of Tax Settlement

The Canon-McMillan School District has agreed to a tax settlement with The Meadows Racetrack & Casino that will call for the North Strabane complex to receive a refund of $2.9 million—and that's not counting what the township and county must pay if the agreement is signed by all parties.

According to the settlement agreement, released by the district after Canon-McMillan Patch filed a state Right to Know request, the portion owed The Meadows by the district will be paid through five annual tax credits of $581,646.

However, the agreement, which has yet to be signed by North Strabane and the Washington County commissioners, also calls for the township to remit a one-time refund of $310,830. The county would be required to pay $680,940.

That's because The Meadows filed a tax appeal in 2009 regarding the 12-acre parcel that the casino, its garage and storage building are located.

While the facility was assessed at $19.95 million for the 2010 tax year, the agreement indicates that the new assessed value from 2010 through 2013 for The Meadows would be $12.7 million if the document is ratified by all parties.

A new four-story garage and a storage building were the subject of another appeal, and added to the value of the property.

With the value of those two structures included, the total assessment for The Meadows in 2013 is listed as $13.4 million in 2012, $13.9 million in 2013, and $14.2 million in 2014, according to the agreement.

Superintendent Michael Daniels could not immediately be reached for comment.

The agreement was approved by school directors at their June 17 meeting.

It was not immediately clear when North Strabane Township and the county would take action on the agreement.