Vernon, Oneida County to Receive 27 Percent Increase in VLT Aid

UTICA – The village and town of Vernon and Oneida County will receive 27 percent more aid for being the host of video lottery terminal (VLT) facilities in 2014-15, Sen. Joseph A. Griffo announced.

The budget includes the following aid for municipalities that host the Vernon Downs racino:

• Village of Vernon: $137,103, an increase of $29,379 from 2013-14.
• Town of Vernon: $231,788, an increase of $49,669
• Oneida County: $256,796, an increase of $55,027

Host aid was cut entirely during the 2010 budget crisis, but is slowly being restored. In 2011, the Legislature restored funding to all communities at 45 percent of the amount they received in 2008-09. In 2013, the funding level was restored to 55 percent of the amount received in 2008-09. It is now at 70 percent restored.

Sen. Griffo has co-sponsored a bill (S2120) that would fully restore aid to 2008-09 levels. That would give $195,861 to the village of Vernon; $331,125 to the town of Vernon and $366,851 to Oneida County.

“I am pleased that this aid to host municipalities was increased in the new budget, as it will reduce property taxes in both Vernon and Oneida County,” said Griffo. “My work is not complete, however. I will continue to advocate for Vernon and Oneida again receiving the aid they are rightfully entitled to under the original agreement.”