Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register
A proposal for a downtown casino in Springfield is taking shape at the Statehouse, but questions remain about whether the last-minute effort can gain enough support in the waning days of the spring session. Mayor Jim Langfelder and a majority of the Springfield City Council sent a letter lobbying for the license to members of the General Assembly and Gov. Bruce Rauner.
The letter could help convince other local legislators to back the casino, according to lobbyist and developer Chris Stone, who is pushing for a gambling spot downtown. Announced Monday, his proposal included 1,200 gaming positions and $150 million in revenue along with $30 million in tax income.
Under the scaled-back plan, he estimates a casino would bring in $100 million, with about $24.4 million being divvied up among the city, the school district, Prairie Capitol Convention Center, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the State Fairgrounds Foundation.
The letter from city officials outlines how the revenue generated could be spent on school buildings, infrastructure projects, repairs to the fairgrounds and updates to the convention center and presidential museum.
Ward 2 Ald. Herman Senor and Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin were the only two not to endorse the note.
The process is moving too quickly, according to Senor, who said the city needs to do its due diligence first and understand how a casino would affect residents, downtown businesses and video gaming operators — something Springfield has more of than any other city in Illinois.
McMenamin echoed that city officials should wait until they hear from constituents before making a decision. He also has doubts that a casino could provide the income promised and said state lawmakers’ focus should be on passing a budget.
“The casino is a false answer to a current problem rooted in dysfunctional state government, the budget impasse,” he said.
Langfelder said he would put the question of a casino in Springfield to voters if a license is granted. Gaining a license gives the option for the city to decide whether it wants a casino or not, the mayor emphasized.
The path to having that option still has to go through the Statehouse. Members of the House are set to consider the gaming expansion that the Senate OK’d last week without a license for Springfield.
***
The gaming bill is scheduled for a House subcommittee hearing on Monday.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 