STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A new skill games tax was recently introduced in Stroudsburg. 28/22 News Reporter Connor Coar explains the goals of this new tax and the effects it may have on the borough's businesses.
The skill games tax was introduced on August 19 to help create a more inviting atmosphere for those who come through Stroudsburg.
Borough manager Larry Kopp believes that skill game machines do not do that.
"We are trying to focus our downtown development on businesses that are a little more open to all people. The skill games is not a part of the image that we are trying to portray in the borough," Kopp said.
According to Kopp, the goal is to try to regulate the number of machines in the borough. He tells 28/22 News there are 30 to 40 skill game machines in Stroudsburg, and each individual machine would be taxed, not each business that has one of these machines in the building.
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Kopp says he is not sure if the businesses know that the new tax was being put in place, but is expecting some sort of push back when businesses begin finding out about the new tax, but adds the 10% tax on the skill games would also help lower the property taxes in Stroudsburg.
"Anytime that you are asking somebody to pay a new tax, there are going to be questions. I'm sure everything will be fine once they understand what it is for. Ultimately, it helps the downtown businesses. The more revenue we take in, the more we can do to keep our downtown looking neat and clean," Kopp added.
With the extra tax dollars coming in, Stroudsburg is expecting to use that money to pave more streets and provide more services for its residents.
28/22 News did reach out to Stroudsburg businesses for their reaction to the new tax, but has not heard back from anyone at this time.
