Mass. Councilor Calls for Restoration of $3 Million in Casino Funding

The City Councilor of Springfield, Massachusetts, Sean Curran, has asked Gov. Maura Healey (D) to restore $3 million in casino mitigation funds.

The allocation previously promised to the city was cut from the latest state budget. They were part of a $20 million annual allotment for western Massachusetts communities and have historically helped maintain local efficiency in the areas surrounding the popular MGM Springfield casino-resort. 

Springfield has received the funds since 2015. They have been used on projects such as public safety, transportation, infrastructural maintenance, and more.

Springfield to suffer without the funding?

Councilor Curran said that Springfield deals with the most casino-related strain of any Massachusetts community, and the mitigation funds are needed to address them. Whereas they previously received about $3 million, they were only granted $360,000 this year.

“The City of Springfield bears the greatest burden from casino-related traffic, public safety demands, and infrastructure needs,” said Curran. “These mitigation funds were promised to help our community manage those challenges. Redirecting this money away from Springfield breaks that commitment and places an unfair strain on our city budget.”

In asking Gov. Healey to reconsider her decision, Curran presented a variety of examples of how the mitigation funds have been used to make a positive difference.

He said the money was used for public safety equipment, road development, the restoration of Court Square Park, and economic planning.

He also revealed that Holyoke Community College, Springfield Public Schools and Springfield Technical Community College utilized the funds to develop the local workforce and hospitality training. 

Additionally, Curran shared that the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and Hampden District Attorney’s Office used the money to help recovery and wellness centers and to enact a variety of public safety projects.

The growing burden

The State Casino Commission met on Thursday to discuss the mitigation funds and Curran’s plea. The councilor said that they could dip into the state’s $8 billion reserve fund to help negate the issue created by the re-allocation of the mitigation funds.

“Restoring this $3 million for Springfield is not just about fairness — it’s about keeping a promise to the host community that has upheld its end of the bargain.”

The state divvied up about $56.7 million from the mitigation fund, supported by taxes collected from local casinos, including the MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor casinos.  Curran warned that a variety of public projects and goals would come under threat if Springfield doesn’t receive a larger slice of the pie.

Additionally, he said that cities and towns located near Springfield could feel an economic and infrastructural strain if the money isn’t restored.

MGM Springfield paid $6.2 million in taxes to the state during the last reported month, August, and $41.5 million in 2025.