Casino Costs Low - 2004-01-28
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz revealed a staff report this morning showing that the annual costs to the city from a proposed casino at DeJope bingo hall "are likely to be far less" than $3.5 million annually.

Under an agreement recently signed by the Ho-Chunk Nation and the city, the tribe agreed to pay the city and county each about $3.5 million a year to cover anticipated city and county services.

Mayoral spokeswoman Melanie Conklin said the report paints a more precise picture of anticipated city costs than one prepared by the Dane County Regional Planning Commission, which also tried to predict economic and social impacts.
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Minnesotans Favor New Casino - 2004-01-28
Giving in to the temptation of a 'sin tax' as a solution to state budget woes, six of every 10 Minnesotans favor allowing a new casino to be built in the Twin Cities metro area to help balance the state budget. Almost half of all Minnesotans say they strongly support the idea, according to a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.

"The results reflect a continuing and perhaps growing level of public comfort with the idea of expanding gambling in the state. That sentiment might be reaching the State Capitol.
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