The Mississippi Senate Finance Committee recently passed amended House Bill 1630, the Gaming Control Act, that would require million to be set aside from the 12 percent tax casinos pay annually on gross casino revenue. About million would be used each year to repay 0 million in bonds needed to repair and rebuild crumbling bridges throughout the state. The additional million would go for infrastructure and to improve services in counties that have casinos.
“We want to make sure people have safe roads to travel on,” said Michael Bruffey, deputy director of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association. He added casino and tourism officials also need money to remain competitive and attract more tourists to the state.
Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association and former executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, said the original intent of the Gaming Counties Bond Sinking Fund was to build the infrastructure to bring visitors to the new casinos. However, since 2012, any money left after the bonds were paid has been turned over to Mississippi Department of Transportation to fund projects throughout the state. The current method of distributing the funds would leave out the counties with casinos.
HB1630 as written before the amendment would redirect the $36 million and create a Gaming Economic Development Fund so the counties that supply services to the casinos would continue to benefit from the fund.
