Seneca County received its first payout of casino funds from the Ohio Department of Taxation Wednesday morning.
"We received $49,292 paid in," County Treasurer Damon Alt said.
Last fall, the Seneca County Budget Commission certified to receive $209,000 in casino revenue from the state for the entire 2012 fiscal year.
Receiving only 23 percent of the actual funds anticipated for the year may have some people scratching their heads as to why revenue is lower than expected.
One thing to keep in mind is casino tax money has only been accruing since Toledo and Cleveland casinos opened in May.
"It affects the receipts," County Auditor Julie Adkins said of the partial quarter state payout.
A gross casino revenue tax is imposed on all licensed casino operators in Ohio at a rate of 33 percent of the total amount of money exchanged for tokens, chips and tickets at a casino facility, less any winnings paid out to wagerers, according to tax.ohio.gov.
The total tax revenue collected from the two operational casinos during the fourth quarter of state fiscal year 2012 was $19,760,132.67, according to the tax department's website.
Another payout from these casinos is expected to arrive Oct. 31.
Last year's funds certified for Seneca County commissioners included forecast revenue from Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo and Cleveland casinos; future funds are awaiting the arrival of two more casinos in Columbus and Cincinnati.
"Cincinnati is expected to open a casino in 2013 and Columbus will have one for gamblers available Oct. 8," an Ohio Casino Control Commission representative with the Ohio Department of Taxation said.
The commission is responsible for licensing and regulating casino operators, their employees and gaming-related vendors.
"The casino tax is just one of the revenues coming into the General Fund," said Tanya Hemmer, assistant administrator to the Seneca County commissioners.
Sales and property taxes are the others that make up the county commissioners' $14 million General Fund.
Board of Commissioners President Ben Nutter said in a phone interview his goal for gambling receipts are to replace lost state funding.
"We still lost over a million in revenue that we used to get in local government funds that (Gov. John) Kasich cut," Nutter said.
