City joins casino group

Chicago Heights would get cut if license OK'd for Country Club Hills
Sunday, January 25, 2004
By Michael Drakulich
Special to the Daily Southtown

Chicago Heights would be one of 18 south suburban communities to receive gaming tax revenue should a casino come to Country Club Hills, officials said.

City council members have voted to support its neighbor's bid for the state's 10th and final casino license from the Illinois Gaming Board.

Officials say Chicago Heights could receive up to $675,000 annually from gaming taxes.

Chicago Heights joins Crestwood, Alsip, Blue Island, Calumet Park, Ford Heights, Midlothian, Phoenix, Posen, Riverdale, Robbins, Calumet City, Dixmoor, Dolton, Harvey, Hazel Crest and Worth as those that would divide about 85 percent of the revenues once the casino is fully operational.

Not all the south suburbs will benefit from the revenue sharing.

City corporation counsel Kathleen Field Orr said only those communities that support Country Club Hills and are in the lower economic strata would be included.

Country Club Hills Mayor Dwight Welch said he, his staff and the students he taught at Governors State University for the past two years have researched the impact a casino could have on the south suburbs. Using census data as a guide, he said he felt the revenue should be shared among the most economically distressed communities.

"We did it (tax revenue sharing) because we thought that was the right thing to do," Welch said. "We're only taking 15 percent because we know what the regional implications are.

"This is my home and I've lived in the south suburbs all my life. We're very familiar with the workings of Chicago Heights. You have to give back to the region and help everybody," he said.

Thirty-two school districts in the area also would receive tax revenue.

Chicago Heights Ald. Lisa Aprati (5th) attended a news conference Friday in Chicago during which Country Club Hills announced its intention to seek the last license.

State Sen. President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) urged the state gaming board to consider the city's application as a way of aiding economically depressed communities in the south suburbs.

"Having Jones as our main speaker on behalf of getting the gaming license, I'm hoping that we have a strong chance of seeing that type of economic development approach the south suburban area," Aprati said.

The gaming board is expected to make its decision in mid March.