In the US state of Ohio, Cleveland City Council has voted 17-2 in favour of endorsing State Issue 3, the ballot proposal to allow for casino gaming to be introduced in the state.
In lending its support to Issue 3, the council cited the anticipated creation of 15,000 permanent jobs for the state. According to a press release from the Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, City Council members passed Resolution 1456-09, stating that the passage of Issue 3 "will produce $651m in tax revenue every year, with the vast majority of the funds going to local governments and every school district in the state. Studies confirm that the casinos will bring a mandated $1bn in new economic development."
Ohio voters will be asked on the November 2009 state-wide ballot whether casinos should be built in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo. The tax rate for the casinos would be 33 per cent, the minimum capital investment per casino location would be $250m each and each casino would be required to pay a $50m licensing fee.
