Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

According to the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Ohio Department of Taxation, Scioto County will be receiving $138,120.49 from the state casino tax.

Two months ago the county reported receiving $69,000 from the state casino tax.

The revenue comes from Ohio’s two casinos, the Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland and the Hollywood Casino in Toledo.

According to Skip Riffe Chairman of the Scioto County Commissioners, a casino in Columbus is expected to open this fall with another one in Cincinnati expected to open next year.

In 2009, Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment that provides for a total of four casino facilities to be located in the state: Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, and Cincinnati.

According to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, “by law, casinos pay a gross revenue tax of 33 percent split between entities including counties with shares determined by population, school districts with shares by enrollment, the four casino cities, the casino commission and programs for problem gamblers. The tax revenue collected from the gross casino revenue tax is split among seven funds benefiting the counties and certain large cities, school districts, host cities, the Casino Control Commission, the Ohio State Racing Commission, law enforcement training, and problem gambling and addictions.”

According to revenue numbers released on Tuesday the Hollywood Casino in Toledo has 80 table games and took in $14,577,417 and payed out $3,321,677 in September. The casino has 2,037 slot machines and took in $138,480,539.85 and payed out $12,642,439 in September. The casino reported an income of $15,964,116 for the month of September.

The Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland has 94 table games and took in $42,339,588 and payed out $6,366,802 in September. The casino has 2,067 slot machines and took in $136,474,089 and payed out $14,754,019 in September.

Riffe said the county did not anticipate receiving the income.

The news comes as the county is anticipating property tax revenue up $250,000 above estimates. It was also announced the counties permissive sales tax revenue is up $300,000 above estimates.

“This is definitely welcomed news. The money will be placed into the general fund,” Riffe said.

This budgetary news comes as the county is taking steps towards getting out from under the emergency status placed by the auditor of state in August of 2009. Riffe said that status could be lifted from the county as soon as next year. He said the steps to having the status lifted include retiring the $557,000 deficit associated with the former juvenile detention center.

“We are hoping to do that (retire the debt) this year. If revenue continues to come in like it is, we think we can get that done this year,” Riffe said.

He said on Thursday the Scioto County Financial Planning and Supervision Commission is anticipated to approve the county transferring $200,000 towards the debt of the former juvenile detention center.

“That will take that debt down to $377,000. I think we are going to be very close to that juvenile deficit eliminated by the end of the year, if we are short we are not going to be short by very much,” Riffe said.

He said after the debt is eliminated from the former juvenile detention center the county will begin to look at 2014, 2015 and 2016 budget projections.

“Once the state is satisfied with those numbers, they’ll release us,” Riffe said.

He said the budgets for 2012 and 2013 are complete. “Once the (20)13 recovery plan gets approved. We will start planing for ‘14, ‘15 and ‘16,” Riffe said.

He said all of this depends on how long it takes the state to be satisfied with projected budget numbers and a number of other factors.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.