Buffalo, NY (WBEN) State Senator Rob Ortt, fellow lawmakers, and nonprofit leaders gathered to call on Albany to pass a bill that would allow casino revenues to continue to a number of Falls nonprofits, who get shares of casino revenue from Niagara Falls.
Ortt says the legislation would amend sections of 99-H state finance law and see that 80% of the total annual amount of casino revenue received will be designated for the city of Niagara Falls to accommodate and enhance economic development, neighborhood revitalization, public health and safety, and infrastructure improvement in the city. That includes Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Destination Niagara USA, the Niagara Falls City School District, The Niagara Falls Housing Authority, Mount St. Mary's Neighborhood Health, and the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad.
"This legislation ensures dependable and reliable profit sharing for these entities that have been able to positively impact our community with the help of these vital dollars," explains Ortt. "Senate Bill 3618 sees that local stakeholders receive necessary funding from the City of Niagara Falls as a result of revenues generated by a new agreement with the state and the casino. Recently, some of our elected leaders have voiced that they feel these entities should have to negotiate for this funding year after year, however I have seen the good work these entities do and feel they should be able to rely on these monies being available to them on a consistent basis. I urge my colleagues in the state legislature to pass this important bill that aids our city's schools, our local hospital and housing systems, and important tourism organizations."
Ortt says he hears all the time these are organizations that need help from Albany, and this bill would do just that. "We have to get state funding, focus on getting a grant for this group or that group. This is already doing it. And if we continue this, I promise you, these organizations will come to the state and they will want state money. And instead of using casino revenues, you'll be using state tax dollars in lieu of that," warns Ortt.
The Senecas are holding that revenue in escrow until a new compact is in place. Ortt doesn't feel hopeful a compact will be reached soon. "There's conversation, but there's really no real movement or real energy at this point," notes Ortt. "I sort of took it as a bad sign, at least from the standpoint of getting a deal done. These things do take time, and there usually has to be some energy behind it, and it just really doesn't sound like the state has been focused on getting this done, and that's concerning to me."
The compact expired at the end of 2023.
