SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - From $3 million a year to zero, that’s the funding crisis facing Springfield after the state pulled the plug on casino mitigation money. If you’ve enjoyed the improvements downtown or felt safer with increased police patrols, those changes could disappear.

For seven years Springfield has counted on casino money to transform the city. $3 million a year that built court square, paid for police details at events such as Star-Spangled Springfield, hired more police, and fixed neighborhood parks. Recently, city leaders learned that money pipeline has been shut off completely.

At Thursday’s Gaming Commission meeting, officials praised Springfield’s Downtown transformation. Mayor Domenic Sarno has turned court square from an eyesore into a community gathering place. But without casino mitigation funds, those improvements could stop. The money has paid for everything, from pothole repairs to police overtime, from park renovations to economic development projects that brought new businesses downtown. Although the Massachusetts Gaming Commission seems to see the need for the funds, unfortunately the Massachusetts Legislature does not.

“We used a lot of that money to leverage bringing more money, and also city money for infrastructure projects. Police, fire, court square, economic development projects. You name it, we’ve done it. Now so, the powers that be on Beacon Hill have decided to change the claim field. And they decided to take that money away. Obviously, I’m very disappointed and upset by that. I hope they re-look at it, especially for direct host cities,” said Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, in response to the State House denying Springfield’s request for the return of the mitigation funding to the city.

For nearly a decade, casino money has been a game-changer for local communities. $57 million dollars since 2015. Statewide and when MGM Springfield came to town in 2018 local cities such as Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, and West Springfield all started to get a piece of the pie. Then in 2024, the legislature changed the rules. instead of helping local cities, the money now funds statewide priorities.

It’s a reminder that when the state changes the rules, local communities pay the price. Springfield built its downtown revival on casino money, now it must find another way forward.

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