The letter sent Thursday and signed by Montgomery County Executive Matt Ossenfort, Town of Florida Supervisor Eric Mead, and City of Amsterdam Mayor Anne Thane asks the New York State Gaming Commission to modify casino licensing requirements for Region 2.
The letter requests that the state defer $25 million of the $50 million license fee, balanced with an increased tax on gaming revenues, and that the Gaming Commission offer a 60 day extension on the casino RFA.
The letter states that Montgomery County is at a financial disadvantage compared to other counties in the Capital Region. According to census data, Montgomery County's poverty rate is more than 19 percent, the highest of all counties eligible for a casino license in region 2, and 29 percent above the statewide average.
Officials have shown support for a casino proposal off Thruway Exit 27.
