Schiavoni pushes bill to ensure Austintown racino funding

AUSTINTOWN — State Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni, D-33rd, is working with state Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City, on an amendment to a current bill to ensure Austintown and Dayton can receive their annual $500,000 racino payments by the Dec. 31 deadline.

Schiavoni had spoken of using House Bill 490 as that vehicle, as he had whipped up support from the Democratic state senators. By late today, however, he was unsure if that bill could pass even without this latest amendment.

Annual payments are due, by existing legislation, to Austintown and Dayton — communities that did not have existing racetracks — for help in improving infrastructure and services such as police and fire, Schiavoni explained. Both communities had tracks moved to their communities by Penn National Gaming.

Schiavoni explained that he is working with Beagle on which bill to attach the amendment — one that has gaming language in it already — and then to gain support for it. Schiavoni had targeted HB 490 because it had sections related to retirement funds for thoroughbred and harness horsemen.

“We just want to make sure we get it in a bill that’s going to pass,” Schiavoni said. “Everything is so unclear because everything moves so quickly the last two weeks.”

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com