With the clock ticking down to the election, the debate over Proposition A is heating up.
A ‘yes’ vote on November’s ballot will:
• Increase state tax casinos pay from 20 percent to 21percent;
• Eliminate the $500 loss limit;
• Set a cap on the number of casinos in the state to those already built or under construction;
• Create a specific education fund from gambling tax proceeds generated; which will require annual audits.
According to the fiscal impact study completed by the state auditor, elementary and secondary schools statewide would gain an estimated $105.1-$130 million a year in new funding and higher education, early childhood development, veterans and other programs would receive $5-7 million.
Proponents include hundreds of teachers and other educators, community leaders, businesses and groups and two casinos: Ameristar Casinos and Pinnacle Entertainment, both of which are helping sponsor the Yes for Schools First Coalition campaign.
The casinos argue the $500-every-two-hour loss limit has kept a cap on the high-rollers gambling in Missouri and has prevented the state from becoming a gaming hot spot.
The opponents argue that the revenue generated is not enough to make a huge difference in the school districts’ budgets. While a $100 million is a lot of money, it’s a drop in the bucket for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s $5.3 billion budget.
If Prop A passes, money will not go to the state’s largest school districts because of the statewide school funding formula already in place.
About one-quarter of public school students attend class in districts that are projected to receive nothing, even if the ballot measure passes.
Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, has said that if the initiative passes, “adequate funding would be based not only on how much the accredited schools have spent on their education, but also on how much people lose at the gambling boat, which I don’t think the court would find as a rational basis for funding.”
Others argue that Proposition A is using schools to gain approval of a law that would primarily benefit the state’s casino industry, two things that should have nothing to do with each other.
Proponents and opponents to Proposition A both say that they are protecting jobs.
Proponents say, by updating the casino regulations, it will allow Missouri to compete with neighboring states for visitors.
Opponents say limiting casinos to those already built or being built will prevent future planning and growth for smaller or economically-depressed communities where tourism revenue might do some good.
Some schools stand gain, others won’t
According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, only some schools stand to gain some money from Proposition A. Using the school funding formula currently in place, the department released a model simulation of exactly how much school districts statewide stand to gain.
School W/O Prop A W/Prop A Est.
FY10 FY10 Increase
Camden County
Camdenton 4,638,076 4,638,076 0
Climax Springs 284,142 284,142 0
Macks Creek 1,157,760 1,186,367 28,607
Miller County
Eldon 5,909,336 6,068,018 158,682
Tuscumbia 1,386,037 1,405,638 19,601
School of the Osage 1,413,853 1,413,853 0
Morgan County
Versailles 2,304,422 2,370,352 65,930
Stover 2,205,954 2,327,357 121,403
In the cards
The Missouri Highway Patrol has used player tracking cards to solve crimes
In 2007,
• 1,682 criminal investigations were conducted by the MSHP Gaming Division; 1,611 were closed making their case percentage 95.78 percent.
• 28 illegal aliens have been identified and turned over to ICE since August of 2007.
• 303 crimes involving theft/stealing were solved with the use of the player’s card.
• 29 crimes involving sex offenses, drugs, assaults and other violent crimes were solved with the use of the player’s card.
• 4 bank robbers were apprehended in 2007 after the FBI contacted the MSHP Gaming Division and “flagged” the suspects cards; suspects were apprehended upon entry to the casinos.
• 1 murder suspect was identified and apprehended by the use of player tracking.
• 215 cases involving fraud, ID theft, forgery and counterfeiting were solved by the use of the player tracking system.
• 1 casino employee was abducted, kidnapped and repeatedly raped. The use of the player’s card identified the suspect after surveillance coverage showed the subject abducting the woman. Police went to the residence and found the victim and apprehended the suspect.
• 4 people were apprehended for sex crimes committed on the casinos, one involving a sex offense against a minor.
Contact this reporter at deannaw@lakesunleader.com
