Operating Budget
DOVER, Del. (AP) - The state Senate has given final legislative approval to a $3.7 billion operating budget for the fiscal year that starts Monday.
Senators voted 17-4 Thursday for the spending plan, which now goes to Gov. Jack Markell for his signature. House members voted 40-to-1 Tuesday to approve the budget.
All five dissenting votes in the House and Senate came from Republican lawmakers, who expressed concerns about continued growth in the state budget.
The fiscal 2014 budget is about 3.6 percent, or $131 million, higher than the current year's budget. It's also about $6 million higher than the budget proposed by Markell in January.
Casinos
The three casinos in Delaware got their wish – an $8 million bailout as a short term fix to cover higher than expected costs from vendors who supply the slot machines.
It does not lower the state tax burden on the casinos.
Lawmakers say they will be looking for a long term solution to the problems facing the facilities at Dover Downs, Delaware Park and the Harrington Raceway and Casino.
Denis McGlynn, chief executive of Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment, which operates the casino and hotel told the Wilmington News Journal that the industry was grateful.
He added that there was a need to deal with the problems now hitting the Delaware gaming industry which has seen sharp competition from surrounding states including Maryland which recently okayed table games and casino expansion.
The money was part of the $477 million capital budget approved yesterday and is expected to be signed this Sunday by the Governor.
(See: Wilmington News Journal)
