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Supporters of Missouri casino go up
against education board August 3
Supporters of a proposed amendment to allow a
casino in southwest Missouri are expressing great concern
about the state's Board of Educations unusual decision to
oppose the amendment. Voters will
consider a constitutional amendment today that would allow a
casino to be built along the White River at Rockaway Beach,
a small town outside Branson. The proposed amendment, if
approved will designate state tax revenue to poorly
performing schools. Under the
Missouri Constitution, taxes on the eleven other casinos are
divided among all public elementary, secondary, colleges,
and universities. Because of the
different proposal of where the money will go in this case,
the Board of Education in Missouri is said to be not in
favor of this amendment. Casino
supporters are concerned with the opposition by the Board of
Education, which is responsible for setting the standards
for Missouri's 524 different public school districts and
policies for the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education. Missourians for Economic
Opportunity is said to have raised about $12 million towards
efforts to get the amendment passed.
It is currently proposed that the revenue
from the Rockaway Beach casino would benefit 16 school
districts that are the most in need. The ballot language
would set aside 50% of the estimated $40-49 million for high
quality teachers for those schools in need. The other half
going towards capital improvements in priority schools.
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