SAFFORD — On Monday, The Safford City Council will be asked whether bingo should be played in the city.
The council will consider two bingo applications — one for Outreach Arizona and the other for the Graham County Senior Center.
In its application, Outreach Arizona states it will lease the banquet room at Copper Steer Steakhouse for bingo games. The lease will cost $1 a month for the first six months, then 5 percent of gross sales per month for the remaining six months of the year.
In the application, Outreach Arizona said it plans to host bingo games five days a week — Fridays through Tuesdays — between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Outreach Arizona has applied for a Class B bingo license, which is for raising funds for a charitable organization. A Class B license holding cannot exceed $500,000 a year in gross receipts, and is taxed at 1.5 percent.
Outreach Arizona is a Safford-based nonprofit organization, that lists its mission is “to assist community members with food, clothing, shelter and job training.”
SEACUS — Southeastern Arizona Community Unique Services — is the other applicant for a bingo license.
In the application, SEACUS states the Senior Center will host bingo just one day a week, Thursday’s starting at 12:30 p.m.
SEACUS is seeking a Class A bingo license, which is a recreational and social license and gross receipts are returned to the players in the form of prizes. A Class A license holder is taxed at 2.5 percent of any gross receipts that have not been paid as prizes.
SEACUS provides services for seniors, including Meals on Wheels and congregate meals at the Senior Center, plus in-home services including housekeeping, shopping and personal care.
The City Council’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Arizona Department of Revenue for final action.
The City Council meets Monday, May 8, at 6 p.m., in the programming room of the Safford City-Graham County Library.
