Formal Letter Of Intent Guarantees Washington County Schools And Teachers To Share In Slots Revenue
(Chipley, Fla.) An official letter of intent accepted today by Dr. Sandra Cook, Superintendent of Schools, guarantees that both Washington County teachers and classrooms will directly share in the revenue created by allowing slot machines at Ebro Greyhound Park.
The letter of intent was signed by Stockton Hess, President and General Manager of Ebro Greyhound Park. The document earmarks revenues specifically for teachers’ salaries, transportation and ground maintenance, as well as other school and classroom needs. The community revenue sharing funds will go directly to the Washington County School District without passing through Tallahassee or any other hands.
“State statutes dealing with gaming revenues do not provide for direct revenue sharing, however, we feel this is unfair to local communities,” said Hess. “We believe it is our civic duty to share revenues directly with our Home County, communities and schools.”
Formal letters of intent to share slot machine revenues with the county and Town of Ebro were accepted last week by Steve Joiner, County Administrator for Washington County, and David Evans, Mayor of the Town Ebro.
The letters of intent make the revenue sharing more than a pledge, said Hess. The letters are both legally and morally binding and guarantee the revenue sharing will take place if voters support the slots initiative. A final, binding legal agreement cannot be executed until after the January 31 election, he added.
The letters commit Ebro Greyhound Park to paying an estimated combined total of two- to three percent of gross slot machine revenue on a monthly basis to the county, Town of Ebro and Washington County School District. The exact percentage will be based on projected revenue and will be determined at a later date. The funds for the county and Town of Ebro are earmarked for public safety, public works and the general fund.
The amount of community revenue sharing is expected to be near $2 million annually.
Hess asked voters not to be swayed by misleading political mail coming from Tallahassee attempting to defeat the slots initiative and block community revenue sharing.
“These are big city outsiders who don’t care about Washington County,” warned Hess. “They will do and say anything to sell out Washington County and protect Tallahassee’s monopoly on gaming revenues.”
Hess also announced today that the News Herald and its sister publication, The Washington County News, have endorsed the slots initiative and are encouraging voters to vote yes. The endorsements were published this past weekend.
In part, the newspapers say the direct revenue sharing “would be windfall for a community that has seen tax revenues decline and government services cut.”
It goes on to say, “Ebro has earned the public’s trust that it will continue to be a community asset and provide a much-needed help to the economy.”
The Town of Ebro also has endorsed a yes vote. In a letter signed by Mayor David Evans this month, he thanks Ebro Greyhound Park for “being an outstanding corporate neighbor and employer for over 55 years and for your strong support for the community.”
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Click here to read the letter of intent sent to the Honorable David Evans - Mayor City of Ebro
Click here to read the letter of intent sent to the County Adminstrator Steve Joiner
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For a PDF Print Version of this Press Release Click Here
Contact:
Chuck Pohlmann
Ebro Greyhound Park
Phone: (850) 234-3943
Fax: (850) 535-4442
6558 Dog Track Road
Ebro, Florida
www.YourChoiceForJobs.com
