By Dave Stafford, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
June 29, 2009 11:59 pm
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ANDERSON — Hoosier Park could be a victim of Indiana’s budget crisis, at least temporarily.
“We are all watching and waiting and hopeful we don’t have to broach that subject,” said Jim Brown, general manager for gaming at Hoosier Park.
The casino and racetrack — and all other licensed gambling operations in Indiana — could be forced to close if lawmakers in Indianapolis are unable to approve a new state budget or pass a continuing resolution to pay for state operations. Indiana’s biennial budget expires at midnight tonight.
Late Monday, leaders of both the House and Senate said they were nearing agreement on a two-year budget with a vote expected today. Until then, Indiana casinos and racetracks might have to shut their doors because the state wouldn’t be able to pay state gaming workers.
“Those would not operate because you would not have the state gaming officials that are needed on site to oversee operations,” said Jane Jankowski, press secretary for Gov. Mitch Daniels.
“That would include almost all of the 30,000 state employees who would be on furlough as well,” Jankowski said. “If we don’t have a state budget, the state doesn’t have the ability to spend.”
Daniels has said that without a budget agreement, non-essential state personnel would be furloughed. Only state workers involved in emergency services, public safety and prisons would stay on as essential state personnel.
Brown said that there has been no direction from the state about what would happen if no budget deal is reached, but he said that it was his understanding that Hoosier Park would be forced to close if there is no movement on the state budget before the deadline.
“We are developing contingencies in case we must temporarily close our doors, and we also continue to plan our contingency to stay open at that time,” Brown said.
A closure would be particularly untimely, Brown said, because Hoosier Park has long planned and promoted events that include outdoor shows and fireworks around the Fourth of July holiday. “It would be a shame if we were not able to continue with those plans,” he said.
Hoosier Park public relations director Tammy Knox said the facility employs about 1,100 people. Brown said officials are doing all they can to communicate with employees and the public about the situation.
State Rep. Scott Reske, D-Anderson, called Daniels’ threat to close the gaming venues “very foolish.”
“The gaming sites bring in $3 million in revenue a day. For him to close that down would not be wise,” Reske said.
But Rep. Jack Lutz, R-Anderson, said the governor’s hands are tied without a budget. He placed blame on House Speaker Pat Bauer, D-South Bend.
“The Senate passed a (budget funding) continuance last week and sent it over to the House last week but the speaker refuses to hear it,” Lutz said, accusing Bauer of “delaying the process.”
Efforts to reach officials at the Indiana Gaming Commission were unsuccessful.
Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com
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