Laughlin says he loses money on the day care center. However, the state of Arizona and the center's clients, largely his employees, split the bulk of the bill. Laughlin estimates that two-thirds of the costs are paid by government agencies and the working families. That's good, he says. Many Bullhead City crime rates stand at or below average but the police department handles what its chief describes as an inordinate number of drug crimes.
Residents bemoan the spread of methamphetamine production and addiction.
In his day job, Collins manages many of the homeowners' associations in the new, planned subdivisions rising along the eastern edge of the city. He's elated at the residential and commercial construction in Bullhead City, which he and many others say has made out well in the boom. Guiding his new sport utility vehicle down Bullhead City's main thoroughfare this week, he pointed out new Wal-Mart, Kmart, pharmacy and grocery outlets. Turning from a neighborhood of manufactured homes onto a newly paved road lined with single-family homes, Collins maneuvered past a forklift hauling a full load of plywood to a freshly graded empty lot. City officials are hoping more casino-driven growth will increase their revenues above what they receive from the city's 7.5 percent sales tax, although they acknowledge that some residents resent Laughlin's growing importance.