Nearly $121 million generated by the licensing fees for three upstate casinos will be distributed to schools across the state, the governor announced Tuesday. In addition, 22 counties and three upstate municipalities are receiving $30.2 million in license fees paid by the state’s casinos.
“This funding will help counties and local governments provide essential services to their residents as well as work to reduce their tax burden,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “These destination resorts will help drive more tourism and economic development dollars upstate and, with these payments, local governments are already seeing the benefits of these projects.”
The payouts are one portion of the $151 million in commercial casino license fees that are being distributed across upstate using the same formula for casino gaming revenue laid out in the Upstate New York Gaming and Economic Development Act of 2013 — 80 percent will be applied statewide for school aid and property tax relief; 10 percent will be split between host municipality and county; and 10 percent will go to counties in the regions established by the Act based on population.
The Catskills and Hudson Valley will receive $10.2 million – well before Montreign Resort Casino opens its doors in the spring of 2018. The Town of Thompson and Sullivan County split 10 percent of the revenue with both receiving $2,550,000 for their roles as Montreign’s host municipality and county, respectively.
The following counties share another 10 percent of the revenue, totaling $5.1 million, for being in the Catskills/Hudson Valley region established by the Act, based on population: Columbia County receives $317,631; Delaware County, $241,536; Dutchess County, $1,497,583; Greene County, $247,783; Orange County, $1,876,777; and Ulster County, $918,687. An additional $40.8 million will be distributed to public schools statewide as part of the state’s education formula.
The Capital Region will receive $10 million – well before Rivers Casino & Resort at Mohawk Harbor opens its doors in early 2017. The city of Schenectady and Schenectady County split 10 percent of the revenue, with both receiving $2,500,000 for their roles as Rivers’ host municipality and county, respectively.
The following counties share another 10 percent of the revenue, totaling $5 million, for being in the Capital Region established by the Act, based on population: Albany County receives $1,718,754; Fulton County, $313,750; Montgomery County, $283,737; Rensselaer County, $900,774; Saratoga County, $1,240,780; Schoharie County, $185,032; and Washington County, $357,170. An additional $40 million will be distributed to public schools statewide as part of the state’s education formula.
The Eastern Southern Tier and Finger Lakes Region is receiving $10 million – well before del Lago Resort & Casino opens its doors in early 2017. The Town of Tyre and Seneca County split 10 percent of the revenue, with both receiving $2,500,000 for their roles as del Lago’s host municipality and county, respectively.
The following counties share another 10 percent of the revenue, totaling $5 million, for being in the Eastern Southern Tier/Finger Lakes region established by the Act, based on population: Broome County receives $2,360,583; Chemung County, $489,532; Schuyler County, $117,546; Tioga County, $601,619; Tompkins County, $1,195,165; and Wayne County, $235,552. The remaining $40 million will be distributed to public schools statewide as part of the state’s education formula.
