Opinions on Fla. slots

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has reported that the Broward County School Board wants to delay a vote on allowing slot machines at pari-mutuel sites until the state legislature decides how to divide the profits.



The nine-member School Board unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday urging the County Commission to slow down on a countywide referendum until after the general session.



According to the Sun-Sentinel report, board members said they have been burned in the past with promises of big revenues from the gaming industry. One board members said she once hoped the Florida lottery would boost education programs, but it gives less than one cent out of every dollar of profits to Broward County.



Estimates are that $500 million in tax revenue from slot machines at racetracks and jai-alai frontons would similarly be divvied up throughout the state, and so far no one knows how much each school district will receive for various programs, salaries and other education expenses.



"Why can't we keep it all?" asked board member Beverly A. Gallagher.



Florida voters passed an amendment in November giving Broward and Miami-Dade counties the chance to conduct referendums that could approve slot machines. Last week, Broward County commissioners said they wanted to act quickly and directed staff to prepare for a vote early next year. The commission is expected to decide whether to proceed with a vote at its next meeting Jan. 11.



Pompano Park is located in Broward County.

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