Compromise on racino payments could send $500,000 to Austintown by Dec. 31

December 10, 2014 at 9:19p.m.

AUSTINTOWN

Legislative compromise could bring Austintown Township a $500,000 payment by Dec. 31 due to the presence of the new Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

The Ohio Senate has approved House Bill 494 with an additional amendment for the $500,000 payments owed to Dayton and Austintown for their racinos. It now goes back to the House for a concurrence vote, and then to Gov. John Kasich for final approval.

The amendment states the payments will be made for just three years, and $250,000 will be paid by the track operator — Penn National Gaming Inc. — and $250,000 from the Casino Operator Settlement Fund.

Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, said that’s another name for the track relocation fund, into which Penn National is paying $150 million over the next 10 years for moving tracks to Dayton and Austintown from Toledo and Grove City, respectively.

“I don’t love it, but at least we got those dollars coming to the communities,” Schiavoni said on the three-year limit of the payments.

Previously there had been no year limit.

“Obviously, I argued that the code said they were supposed to receive $500,000 annually.”

The amendment also specifies that if a payment is not made, the Ohio Lottery Commission can revoke the license of the video lottery terminal license holder.

The amended HB 494 passed the Senate 31-0 and now heads back to the Ohio House to be concurred.

“They only have to make a decision on if they accept [House Bill] 494,” Schiavoni said.

Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for Penn National, declined comment on the development Wednesday night.

HB 494 as a whole deals with regional transportation projects and local government issues.

The debate over the $500,000 has centered on who had to pay, how it would be paid and for how long.