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Eastern Shawnee Narrow Number of Casino Sites in Ohio
By George NelsonYOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Eastern Shawnee Tribe has narrowed its search to two or three sites for a casino in the Youngstown-Warren area, its Ohio representative said yesterday."It's not 100% finalized but we look forward hopefully to making a major announcement in the Mahoning Valley, just like we're doing today in Lorain," said Terry Casey, a consultant for the Eastern Shawnee said yesterday. Casey was on his way to Lorain for the announcement that the tribe had purchased an option on land there to develop a casino. The tribe, which had announced two sites in western Ohio, wants to build as many as nine casinos in the state, Casey has said. Local speculation has focused on a site in Lordstown that spills into Jackson Township. Tribal representatives were in Ohio over the weekend and viewed several sites, "so we're closer to finalizing a decision," Casey said. "There's still paperwork lawyers have to do. We're hoping by the end of the month to make an announcement in that area." But in a visit to Youngstown this morning, Gov. Bob Taft expressed sketicism that casino gambling would ever take root in Ohio while he is governor.The earliest it could begin, he said, is two years hence and casino gambling would first need voter approval, regardless of American Indians' claims to ancestral homes before the arrival of white settlers.The governor has two years left in his second term and cannot seek a third consecutive term. Gaming creates few good-paying jobs and the benefits of whatever jobs might be created would be offset by the social ills that accompany the gaming industry's presence, the governor explained. Casinos, Taft said, do little to promote economic development and he doesn't buy the argument that Ohioans going to other states to gamble is a reason for this state to allow such activity.The Eastern Shawnee Tribe's announcement yesterday in Lorain came the same day that the National Indian Gaming Association released an analysis of the economic impact of Indian gaming in 2004. According to the study, Class II gaming -- bingo lottery or pull-tabs -- and Class III casino-style gaming generated $18.5 billion in gross revenues for tribes, up from $16.7 billion in 2003. Tribal gaming and ancillary businesses have directly and indirectly created some 553,000 jobs. Casey observed that Indian gaming "is the fastest-growing segmentout there, compared to Las Vegas, riverboats and racinos," and thatOhio is missing out on that revenue.The $18.5 billion the gaming association reports included $1.8 billion paid state governments through income payroll, sales and other taxes as well as direct revenue- sharing payments, a figure not lost on members of the Ohio Legislature. "With that kind of revenue being generated out of these casinos, it's a no-brainer," said state Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood, D-65, of Niles, who noted that the state could receive 2% of the revenue generated by a casinoĆs slot machines. Harwood and other members of the area's legislative delegation met with tribal representatives -- including Eastern Shawnee Chief Charles Enyart -- a few weeks ago. Several expressed support for a local casino, arguing that Ohioans gamble but must leave the state to do so, depriving the state treasury but leaving Ohio with the many of the social ills associated with gambling. "Those figures definitely make it more sellable," Harwood said. Ohio prohibits Class III gaming. The tribe would have to negotiate an agreement with the state to operate a Class III casino, considered the most lucrative option. However, if the tribe establishes a historical presence in the state, it could develop a Class II operation without the state's approval. And such presence would preclude its making payments to the state.However, proponents of a casino argue that the state's poor financial health could strengthen their hand with state officials. "That's what lots and lots of legislators told us," said Casey, former executive director of the Franklin County Republican Party. "They don't want to have Ohio do either the severe cuts -- as much as 20% for counties -- or the many different business, utility and consumer tax increases that have been proposed."The budget Taft submitted last week cuts aid for social programs, local governments and libraries. Despite increases in various fees -- including higher taxes on beer, wine and cigarettes -- the budget is expected to generate $800 million less over the next two years than the current tax structure. Taft has not met recently with casino proponents, Casey said, noting that the governor had been busy putting together his budget. He also said Taft has made clear he wants to see "detailed economic numbers on the social costs versus the economic benefits" and that state and national experts are producing those figures. "What we have said consistently, and the chief has said, is that the governor and Ohio's political leaders are very smart. We just ask them to look at all the facts and weigh what's best for Ohio's future," Casey remarked.The Eastern Shawnee Tribe is considering a $200 million resort locally, depending on the site. Such a facility could create a minimum of 2,000 jobs, which Harwood said would pay an average of between $30,000 and $40,000."