ATLANTIC CITY – After nearly eight years and multiple court hearings, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson announce today a settlement agreement with the State of New Jersey related to the casino PILOT (payment‐in‐lieu‐of‐ taxes) legislation.
The county will receive a lump sum in 2025 and continue to receive quarterly casino payments through 2026.
According to Levinson, an agreement was reached and finalized on April 2 but he was asked to hold the information until all affected parties could be notified.
With this $15 million settlement, Levinson estimates the county will have received close to $59 million more than it would have otherwise received had it not challenged the 2016 PILOT and the 2021 amendments.
Levinson explained that the casinos and Atlantic City paid less in taxes as a result of the PILOT, which left the other 22 Atlantic County municipalities to pay more to make up the difference.
“I am elated with this settlement and extremely grateful for the efforts of our legal counsel,” Levinson said in a release. “It was a hard‐fought battle.”
Outside counsel Ronald Riccio of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, the firm that represented Atlantic County, credited Levinson for the settlement agreement.
“In all the cases which I have been involved, I have never witnessed such personal tenacity, determination and courage as that displayed by County Executive Dennis Levinson, He deserves much credit for this positive outcome,” Riccio said.
“Throughout my career, I have tried to do the very best for the people I represent,” Levinson said. “This case tested my resolve, but it was too important to simply dismiss as some had suggested. Effective leaders need to remain steadfast in the face of challenges.”
Atlantic County first brought a lawsuit in 2017 that challenged the 2016 Casino Property Tax Stabilization Act. Years of litigation followed with multiple decisions in favor of the county and subsequent appeals by the state. The county was due to receive millions from the 2018 Consent Order, but stood to lose a portion of it as a result of the 2021 PILOT amendments.
Levinson, a Republican, also acknowledged Democrat County Commissioner Ernest Coursey for bringing NJ Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jacqueline Suarez to the table to discuss a settlement with the county executive.
“I believe these discussions would not have happened without the intervention of Ernest Coursey,” he stated “Ernest was able to initiate a dialogue that led to settlement negotiations and a final agreement. He and Commissioner Suarez have the gratitude of all our county taxpayers.”
Levinson said it was a long and expensive battle
“Past and present county commissioners and municipal officials stood by me throughout this arduous process,” he said. “Their enduring support helped bring this settlement to fruition. They shared my commitment to make our taxpayers whole.Together we accomplished our goal.”
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