LOCKPORT — Niagara County lawmakers want to make sure New York State officials protect the flow of tribal casino revenue to Niagara Falls and the county as a whole.
Members of the county legislature on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution urging Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers to ensure any new gaming compact is accompanied by an amendment to state finance law covering the local disbursement of slot machine revenues from the three casinos operated by the Seneca Nation of Indians in Western New York.
The resolution calls on the state to amend New York State Finance Law 99-h to explicitly require the local government share provided to the Falls from Seneca Niagara Casino to remain at 25% of the state’s share. The resolution also requests the adoption of an amendment to maintain the City of Buffalo’s casino revenue percentage at the same level.
The resolution opposes any “provision, formula or interpretation” that would permit revenues generated by Seneca casinos from being “pooled or combined for purposes of calculating the respective local government revenue-sharing allocations.” It also calls for “statutory protections” to be enacted as part of any agreement establishing a new gaming compact.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the measure’s lead sponsor, Third District Legislator Chris McKimmie, R-Niagara Falls and the Town of Niagara, said he believes it is in the best interests of the city and the county to prevent the state from pooling funds from all three casinos before distributing any local share. He suggested such an arrangement could be detrimental to future returns for the Falls and the county since Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is the largest revenue generator of the Nation’s three local casinos.
“The state’s current legislation is just another way for the state to shortchange Niagara Falls and Niagara County and funnel more money away from Niagara County and into the City of Buffalo,” he said. “I believe any of the revenue generated in Niagara Falls and in Niagara County should stay in Niagara County.”
Concerns about the future of local casino revenue sharing stem from comments made earlier this month by Seneca Nation President J.C. Seneca, who said an agreement in principle has been reached on a new gaming compact that provides no sharing with the Falls, Buffalo or the third host community, the City of Salamanca.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office has disputed Seneca’s characterization, with a spokesperson telling multiple media outlets there is no agreement in principle in place and negotiations between the two parties are ongoing.
Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino has estimated the city could lose between $11 million and $13 million annually if a new compact excludes revenue-sharing provisions for host communities.
In other matters, the legislature:
• Adopted a local law opting into a state program that allows local governments to provide full real property tax exemptions to seriously disabled veterans. More than a dozen local veterans attended the public hearing prior to Tuesday’s vote and encouraged lawmakers to approve the exemption. The exemption covers veterans meeting eligibility requirements, including a determination by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that they are “permanently and totally” disabled as a result of military service. The exemption applies only to county property taxes. To be considered for eligibility, disabled veterans must obtain a letter from the VA documenting their disabled status and present the letter to their local assessor’s office. For more information, veterans are encouraged to contact the county’s Veterans Service Agency at 716-438-4090.
• Voted unanimously to support a resolution calling on the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and the state of New York to ensure all necessary environmental steps and reviews are followed before and after the company closes its Niagara Falls plant on Oct. 31. The measure follows concerns raised by some residents, community groups and environmental advocates about the potential for the plant to close without sufficient testing for emissions, including ortho-toluidine, a chemical used in the manufacturing of tires that is considered a carcinogen and has been linked to bladder cancer among dozens of Goodyear employees. The DEC previously confirmed the facility was releasing O-T from the Falls plant at levels seven times higher than the state health department’s safety standards. The plant’s closure date coincides with a deadline for the installation of enhanced pollution control equipment on-site under a consent order entered into by Goodyear following negotiations with the DEC.