Casino Monies Freed for Niagara Falls

With nearly $24 million being held back from going to improve the city of Niagara Falls, many residents are relieved to hear that a long-standing deadlock over how revenues from slot machines at the Seneca Niagara casino has been broken. As the state's legislative session has ended, so too has the argument over how the money should be divided.

Approved by Governor George Pataki, a memorandum of understanding has illustrated how the money will be divided. Of the $23.9 million, coming from slot machine revenue from 2004 and 2005, $7 million will be going to USA Niagara Development Corp. the rest of the funds will be going to the city of Niagara Falls and will be used to pay off debts related to the city's infrastructure improvements, help of the city's urban renewal agency, and go to create a tribal revenue account as well as many other projects.