From the St.Joseph News-Press- an editorial from January 14th.
Many people had doubts about bringing gambling to Missouri in the early 1990s.What eventually sold the issue to voters was a plan to take gambling revenues and apply them to education. And in the years since, school districts across the state have received millions of dollars, thanks to folks losing money at the blackjack and craps tables, or the slot machines.But it hasn’t been a windfall. Legislators, realizing they also must fund prisons, roads, mental health and the like, began taking some of the money that formerly went to education and applying it in those other areas. That makes the gambling revenue even more important where the schools are concerned.So it was disheartening to learn recently that Missouri schools could face a $24 million funding shortfall because casino revenues are down. Roger Stottlemyre, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission, said casino proceeds were expected to be almost $372 million this year, but instead will be $348 million.The commission had projected an increase because of a 2008 law, approved by voters, that repealed loss limits and increased gambling revenue taxes. But no one knew — including the commission — that the economy would turn the way it did in 2008 and 2009.Casinos across the country have been hard hit, including those in Missouri.Visit Las Vegas, and the downturn is evident: The bare skeletons of unfinished casinos, sitting on dirt lots along the Strip.In Missouri, the casinos’ lower numbers register in another way: Less money for school buildings, for teachers, for student programs.Gov. Jay Nixon’s office says it is looking at ways to fill the shortfall. Last year, general state funds were used.But the message is clear: Gambling, once despised by many — perhaps still despised by many — has become invaluable to Missouri’s financial well-being. You can bet the house on that.
