Gaming regulators decided Monday to spend as much as they can from the account that assists communities near casinos this year…and will hope for a revival of the funding stream in future Beacon Hill budget talks.
The current year’s state budget zeroed out new funding for the Community Mitigation Fund, which was due to receive 6.5% of casino revenues under the 2011 expanded gaming law. The House budget passed last week would do the same for next year, and the Senate went on record last year supporting a more permanent change in how casino tax revenues flow.
Seeing “the writing on the wall,” members of the Gaming Commission talked Monday about three options that Commissioner Brad Hill laid out last month.
