WV Budget Plan: Take Another $2M From Purses
Blood-Horse
Legislation for the fiscal 2016 state budget in West Virginia is calling for another reduction in video lottery terminal and table games revenue that goes to purses at Thoroughbred and Greyhound tracks.
Last summer, in the final hours of a special session, the legislature shifted 10% of revenue that goes to purses to pay for other state programs, and also made structural changes that subject some VLT revenue to legislative appropriation rather than statutory percentages. The projected amount for fiscal 2016 that is subject to appropriations is more than $14 million.
A joint budget committee of the House of Delegates and Senate decided March 17 to take $2 million of that amount and use it to pay for Medicaid programs, according to racing industry stakeholders. The budget will continue to move through the legislative process.
In a related matter, legislation that would have changed the statutory minimum number of live racing days per year at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort from 210 to 185 died in the current legislative session. The measure had the support of Mountaineer management and the Mountaineer Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
The West Virginia Racing Commission said March 17 it will schedule a special meeting to address proposed changes in 2015 racing dates. Mountaineer was approved for 210 and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for 220.
Charles Town and the Charles Town HBPA have formally requested a reduction to 193 days, but the WVRC has yet to take action on the request. Erich Zimny, Charles Town vice president of racing operations, said officials also must discuss weather- and track-related program cancellations Charles Town intends to reschedule through the year.
Mountaineer, in light of the fact its legislation stalled for this year, will be involved in the meeting.
“We’ve asked to be included,” Mountaineer director of racing Rose Mary Williams said March 18. “We haven’t put in (a request to the racing commission) yet about reducing racing days.”
Mountaineer has cut purses 25% for the early part of its meet, which began March 1, because of last year’s legislated shift in VLT revenue.
