Ohio: Cleveland City Council’s casino revenue stuck in a bureaucratic ‘black hole’

Ohio: Cleveland City Council’s casino revenue stuck in a bureaucratic ‘black hole’

Article brief provided by Signal Cleveland
  • Nick Castele, Doug Breehl-Pitorak and Abbey Marshall, Signal Cleveland
March 3, 2023 4:06 PM
  • Nick Castele, Doug Breehl-Pitorak and Abbey Marshall, Signal Cleveland

Becca Britton had big plans for Neighborhood Pets. The Slavic Village resource center had become a treasured asset, offering free or low-cost pet supplies to residents who are struggling financially. Adding a clinic was Britton’s next goal.

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She eyed a neighboring vacant storefront for the expansion, and thought she had help to fund the project – a portion of casino tax revenues distributed to Cleveland City Council members.

Then-Council Member Tony Brancatelli sponsored legislation awarding up to $25,000 of Ward 12’s casino funds to Neighborhood Pets. He lost his re-election bid but the new council member, Rebecca Maurer, supports the project.

More than a year since council passed that legislation, Britton said she’s still waiting. She has not seen a penny. Neighborhood Pets and its community supporters eventually raised the money to cover the costs of the expansion.