OMAHA- In the fiscal year of 2019, Council Bluffs casinos brought in over $400 million in gross revenue. This means Nebraskans are traveling to these casinos and are subsidizing Iowa tax relief and more. It only makes sense that Nebraska would want to capture some of that revenue. The ballot contains three citizen proposals dealing with this issue. One is a constitutional amendment to allow gaming at horse tracks. The other two are regulate the gaming and the proceeds. These would impose a 20% tax on gross gambling revenue of licensed operators, of which 70% would go to property tax relief, 25% to counties and 2.5% to both problem gamblers assistance and state general fund.

If these pass, it could mean up to $45 million a year for property tax relief and would add 16% to the state's Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. The state has the country's eighth highest property tax burden, with Nebraska counties bringing in more revenue taxing farmland than any state but California and Texas.

Opponents argue that casinos cause social problems and that gambling revenue projections also fall short. Before casino's came to Council Bluffs, 9% of homeless people that came through the Open Door Mission said their situation was due to gambling, now 36% of people say gambling was the main problem.

The Omaha World-Herald urges voters to vote FOR Initiatives 429, 430 and 431.

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