Paul McKibben reports:
Warren County commissioners today approved a special taxing district for a new racino that is expected to bring 700 jobs and millions of dollars of tax revenue as soon as late 2013.
Sale of the 120-acre property for $4.5 million from the state of Ohio to Miami Valley Gaming & Racing of Buffalo, N.Y., the racino operator, is pending.
The land, formerly a state prison farm, is located at Ohio 63 and Union Road in Turtlecreek Township, near the Monroe outlet mall on Interstate 75. Lebanon Correctional Institution is located directly across Ohio 63.
The Lebanon Raceway would move from the Warren County Fairgrounds in Lebanon to the new location. A racino combines horse racing and video slots.
Miami Valley Gaming’s plans, filed with the county, include a 188,000-square-foot casino and a five-eighths-mile track with a two-level grandstand that can seat 700. The casino will have up to 2,500 video lottery terminals but no gaming tables.
The casino would be open 24 hours a day/seven days a week.
Miami Valley Gaming is a joint venture between Delaware North Cos. Gaming and Entertainment and Churchill Downs.
Lebanon City Schools, Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, the Warren County Career Center and other taxing units will benefit financially from the racino because the property is currently owned by the state and governments don’t pay property taxes.
The Enquirer will update this story.
Posted in: News, Warren County |
