Lepore-Hagan proposes racino payment measure

COLUMBUS

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, has introduced a budget-amendment proposal for $500,000 payments to racino communities.

State Rep. Paul Zeltwanger of Mason, R-54th, introduced the same amendment on the Republican side Friday. Both legislators are in their first terms, and the proposals were announced by Lepore-Hagan’s office.

The payment was promised to six racino host communities on a yearly basis in a memorandum of understanding in the initial racinos legislation in 2012. The funds were due by Dec. 31, 2014, but an amendment was line-vetoed by Republican Gov. John Kasich in December.

That action led the talks to continue on who would pay the amount, for how long and who would qualify.

Kasich’s office has said the payment should be for all six communities and not involve any state funds.

Read more about the issue in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.