School Board protests against the slot machine referendum
Next month is expected to be featured by the referendum on slot machines to allow their plantation at parimutual facilities. The proceeds from the slot taxation are planned to be used for educational funding. This however, was not welcomed by the Miami-Dade County School Boar, when Board Vice Chairman Rover Ingram maintained that society will pay a heavier price in social misdemeanors accompanying gambling, than gain the alleged benefits in tax revenues. Marta Perez, another board member expressed a similar stance on this issue, saying that her reluctance to support this matter stems from the negative evidence she encountered with from some communities where gambling was administered.
Slot machine legislation could enrich school districts with $ 438 million in the first year, which is about 30% of the entire slot revenues. Horse and dog tracks in Miami-Dade and Broward would be the money generating engines.
United Teachers of Dade are taking yes position on the slot referendum, citing it as the only necessary revenue source for education. The first vote is drafted on the 8th of March which would encompass the Miami-Dade and Broward counties and then it would be up to school board to take the issue on consideration. About 560 polling places will be opened by the Election officials with nearly 2.3 million Miami-Dade residents already registered to vote.
