Last week, Erie County Legislator Ed Rath voted in support of a resolution that opposes Governor Cuomo’s elimination of Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) Aid for municipalities, including Erie County.

VLT is state aid provided to communities with casinos and racetracks. The aid comes from money generated by those facilities and is often a major revenue sources for municipalities. Last year, Hamburg received $865, 679 for Hamburg Gaming at the Fairgrounds, while Erie County received $288,560. Neighboring communities, such as the City and Town of Batavia and Genesee County, will also suffer due to the revenue they anticipate from Batavia Downs Gaming.

Legislator Rath said, “These cuts are troubling and will have a severe financial impact on many counties and municipalities throughout New York State. These facilities generate millions of dollars and they deserve to have some of that funding sourced back to them. If this money isn’t restored, it is possible that towns, cities, and counties will be forced to raise taxes or make additional cuts. The resolution passed by the Legislature calls on Governor Cuomo to restore these critical payments.”

A copy of the resolution can be viewed here.