The state is grappling with an $8 billion budget deficit it must eliminate by mid-2011, leaving Riordan and Montgomery County Administrator Deborah Feldman all but convinced that legislators will cut millions from the Local Government Fund.
Dayton received $12.7 million from the LGF last year and the county about $20 million, which is a lot more than casinos are projected to generate for them.
“We are not making any budget projections beyond 2011 until we know what the state is going to do,” Feldman said.
The Department of Taxation estimates casinos will produce $643 million a year, with the county and Dayton each receiving about $7.5 million.
Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus and Cleveland — where casinos will be built — are projected to receive at least twice that amount.
All 88 counties, along with school districts, will receive casino money, but only the eight largest cities will receive half of their county’s share. School districts will get $218 million divided up based on attendance.
Annually, local counties are expected to receive:
• Montgomery, $15.3 million
• Greene, $4.4 million
• Miami, $2.9 million
• Warren, $5.8 million
• Clark, $4 million
State Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton, said there are no plans to supplant funds, but offered no guarantees.
“We have no plans to cut from the (LGF),” Luckie said. “This is supposed to be additional revenue that cities can use.”
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