On Nov. 3, voters will be asked to vote on a familiar issue: casinos.
Issue 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow one casino each to be built in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.
Each casino’s gross revenue would be taxed a fixed rate of 33 percent, which would be distributed to each county based on population. Thirty-four percent of the total would also be used for public schools. A bipartisan committee called ‘Ohio casino control commission’ would be created to regulate and license the casinos.
David Jackson, associate professor in the political science department, said the issue comes at a time when the economy is in a terrible state.
‘We’ve got an economy that says ‘We’ve got to do something’,’ he said.
According to Yes On Issue 3’s Web site, the casinos would create 34,000 new jobs in Ohio and generate an estimated $586 million total for Ohio’s counties, cities and schools.
Another issue is about the 33 percent levy, which is one of the lowest among all states with legalized gambling, TruthPac’s Web site said. In Maryland, a casino recently agreed to pay 67 percent in taxes, the Web site stated.
Freshman Catie Good said she plans to vote in favor of the issue because it will increase Ohio’s employment rate.
‘It opens up more jobs, which we are in need of with our economy,’ she said.
Jackson said these jobs will vary.
‘Some of those jobs are good high-paying jobs, some are kind of entry level low-paying jobs,’ Jackson said. ‘But when you’ve got the kind of unemployment that we have, it’s always good to have more jobs.’
The TruthPAC Web site said the problem is that over half of the jobs will be temporary.
Jackson said the issue will benefit because it’s placed on an off-year ballot, which brings a lower turn-out of voters. It also has more support from unions than it has in the past, he said.
‘It definitely looks like most of the unions in Ohio are behind it; those are people you can count on to actually turn out to vote, when the time comes,’ he said.
Yes On Issue 3’s Web site said revenue from the casinos would be used to help revitalize downtown areas.
Each casino would be required to commit $250 million to its facility for a total of a $1 billion investment from all four casinos.
Jackson said casinos would likely attract more convention business to cities, such as Toledo, which are lacking in entertainment venues.
TruthPAC’s Web site said that the language in the amendment does not even require a casino to be built.
Jackson said this seems unlikely though.
‘I don’t know of any referendum that has been approved for casino gambling that hasn’t resulted in the construction of casinos,’ he said. Sophomore Lindsay Davis said she isn’t planning to vote in favor of Issue 3.
‘I have a feeling there are a lot of loopholes for the casinos to jump through,’ she said.
TruthPAC’s Web site said one loop hole is that cash wagering would not be used to determine profits and would not factor into taxes.
Jackson said this is not the first time casinos have been on the ballots.
‘It has been a fairly large number of times, I remember the last one was just to build one casino and have it be owned by just a single operator, that was in the presidential year if I’m not mistaken,’ he said. ‘And that one didn’t come anywhere near passing.’
He said it seems like this year will be different.
‘They’ve definitely gone for it in an environment that works in their favor this time,’ he said.’
Issue 3
The Issue in a Nut Shell: Issue 3 would authorize one casino to be built in a specific location in the cities of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. Each casino would be levied a fixed tax of 33 % on its revenue and required to pay a $50 million fee for state job training, as well as make a $250 million investment in its facility.
Levy distribution: 51% of the total levy will be distributed to the 88 counties based on each county’s population. Half of each county’s distribution will go to its largest city if the city’s population is above 80,000. 34% of the total will be distributed among all public school districts. 5% among the cities hosting a casino. 3% to the Ohio casino control commission. 3% to the Ohio state racing commission fund. 2% to a state law enforcement training fund. 2% to a state problem gambling and addictions fund.
Regulation: Issue 3 will allow all of the casino gaming types authorized in Michigan, West Virginia, Indiana and Pennsylvania as of Jan. 1, 2009. The Ohio casino control commission will be created to license and regulate the casinos.
Casinos will be subject to all state and local laws regarding health and building codes, but not to local zoning, land use laws, regulations or provisions that would prohibit casino development or operation. A yes vote means you approve of amending the Ohio constitution to allow one casino each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. A no vote means you disapprove of amending the Ohio constitution to allow one casino each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.
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