Canton Rep – What had been money in the pockets of betting men and women and became loot lost on the craps tables, slot machines and other games of chance at the Ohio’s four casinos has landed in the coffers of local public and charter school districts.
What had been money in the pockets of betting men and women and became loot lost on the craps tables, slot machines and other games of chance at the Ohio’s four casinos has landed in the coffers of local public and charter school districts.
The Ohio Department of Taxation distributed $47.3 million in casino-tax revenue to the public, vocational and charter schools that educate Ohio’s children. Stark County’s nearly $1.6 million allocation is shared by the county’s 17 public school districts, its vocational school, as well as charter schools and other schools located outside county borders that have Stark County students enrolled. Districts received their payments, based on $26.39 per student enrollment, in January.
The money comes from a 33 percent tax casinos must pay on the gambling revenue left after paying winners. Voters approved the tax when they passed a constitutional amendment in 2009 allowing casinos to be built in Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati. County and large city governments receive a portion of the casino-tax revenue on a quarterly basis based on their population.
The January allocation represents the third — and largest — distribution for the schools yet. While the money contains no use restrictions, a survey of local school officials shows districts have utilized the gaming proceeds primarily in three areas…
