Lepore-Hagan submits budget amendment on racino payments

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, has submitted a budget amendment on the $500,000 racino payment issue today to the Ohio House.

Along with her proposal on the Democratic side, state Rep. Paul Zeltwanger of Mason, R-54th, introduced it on the Republican side.

In a press release Friday morning, Lepore-Hagan said, “The racino host communities were promised funds to help pay for the increased cost of public safety services for the sites.”

State Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, said he had conversations with Lepore-Hagan about submitting a budget amendment in the House during ongoing budget talks.

The budget amendment is for the $500,000 payment to be made to all six racino communities for six years and come from the Casino Operator Settlement Fund, or the track relocation fund.

“We’ve tried a lot of different ways and tried a lot of different tactics and a variation of how much and how long and it’s good for the reason it continues the conversation,” Schiavoni said of the language in the proposal.

“All the senators are waiting to see what happens with the House piece before we make a move,” he further said.