Casino Revenue Proposal by Rep Brian Higgins

A proposal to capture all the state's revenue share from the proposed Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino and send it to local cultural institutions will be unveiled in the next few days by Rep. Brian Higgins.

Higgins said Friday that he and Mayor Byron W. Brown will seek changes in the current "compact," which would send 25 percent of slot machine profits to the state and return 25 percent of that sum to Buffalo.

The two politicians now want all of that revenue directed to Buffalo, especially in view of Seneca Nation plans to market the casino primarily to local residents.

"This is a good time to roll this out and get the discussion moving," Higgins said. "And the revenues are essentially coming from this community anyway."

While Brown supports the concept of returning all the revenues to Buffalo, he said he hopes to convince Higgins of other needs for the money, such as replenishing diminished homeland security funding.

Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, discussed his proposal during a meeting with editors and reporters of The Buffalo News. He acknowledged that amending an agreement that took months to forge will be difficult, but he expressed confidence that Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer will be elected governor and will agree to the idea.

"Governors, if they want something to happen, can almost will it," he said. "In order to make this happen, he will have to act early."

Though at least two other candidates are competing for governor, Higgins tailored his remarks toward Spitzer, who is leading in all polls. Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson said the candidate is open to the idea.

July 2, 2006
Posted By Tom Jones
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