Saturday, January 06, 2007

An increase in gaming revenues resulted in more money for the Washington
County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, the Washington County Gaming
Commission announced. In a press release Wednesday, Washington County public
information officer Norman Bassett said the gaming association distributed
$664,790.05 to the fire and rescue association. The money represents half of
the gaming fund revenues from July 1 through Sunday, Director of Gaming
James Hovis said. The most recent revenues are 5.6 percent higher than the
January 2006 disbursement, the press release states. Ten percent of the
overall gaming fund revenues go toward the operating expenses of the
Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, President Glenn
Fuscsick said. The remaining money is split evenly among the county's fire
and ambulance companies, he said. The gaming commission distributes the
money raised by tip jars throughout the county. Nonprofit organizations get
gaming funding in August, while the fire and rescue association's funding
comes in January and August. Since its beginning, the commission has
distributed more than $31 million, the press release states.