VLT revenues restored in state budget

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bob Conner

Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County will continue to get a share of revenues from video lottery terminals at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno announced Friday.

The budget proposal of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer had proposed phasing out the revenue over the next two years. Spitzer also tried to eliminate the local revenue in last year’s budget.

Last year, Saratoga Springs received $3.8 million while Saratoga County received $1.3 million, according to Bruno’s office. Both are projected for similar payouts this year, but Bruno’s office said those revenues will be reduced by a planned 2 percent cut proposed by the governor’s Division of Budget.

The Budget Division and the Assembly majority and minority press offices did not immediately return calls for comment.

Bruno’s statement said, “It is a fair and just resolution for all of Saratoga County. These communities should be sharing in the success of Saratoga Gaming and Raceway. The revenue will be used to reduce local taxes and assist the municipalities in covering the costs associated with maintaining the infrastructure.”