The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 9, 2010

Group requests casino revenue

By Tina Alvey Register-Herald Reporter

— WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — With the official opening of The Greenbrier’s 82,000-square-foot casino coming this spring, Main Street representatives appealed to city council Monday for funding tied to gaming revenues.

Under the terms of the legislation empowering the resort to operate a gambling facility, the White Sulphur Springs receives 2.5 percent of the state’s share of the casino’s revenue. The city has already collected more than $6,200 during the first four months of operation of the resort’s smaller-scale Tavern Casino.

For January, the last month for which figures are available, the city’s take was $2,044.87, according to financial secretary Linda Coleman-Barker. She confirmed the amount had risen each month since the Tavern Casino opened in October.

Council voted Monday to give 10 percent of the city’s gaming cut to the Main Street organization, effective immediately.

Main Street president Larry Klein appealed to council for the funding, saying the organization is always looking for new ways to raise funds and one time-honored solution is “to beg.”

He said, “What we really want to do is become sustainable.”

Sadie Fraley, Main Street’s executive director, explained the group often holds back on starting a big project because of money worries, fueled by the need to pay normal operating expenses like insurance and salaries.

Klein, who is vice president and general manager at The Greenbrier Sporting Club, pointed out that projections put the figure White Sulphur can eventually expect to receive from casino proceeds as high as $250,000 per year.

Acknowledging the city’s always tight budget, he said, “Hopefully, there’s light at the end of the tunnel for all of us.”

In other financial business, council unanimously adopted a budget for the 2011 fiscal year totaling $1,555,782.

“It’s the best that we can do,” Mayor Debra Fogus said, adding, “I’m still not comfortable with it.”

The budget includes money for a 45 cents per hour raise for all city employees.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com

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