Marion County Voters to Decide Casino IssueAs reported by the Hillsboro Free Press: "Marion County voters will have the chance in about 10 weeks to decide in a mail-in referendum whether to allow casino gambling that could bring in a resort hotel and casino with $75 to $100 million annual payroll to the county.
"Former Wichita Mayor Bob Knight, who supports the referendum, and his team told the Marion County Commission Monday that the $300 million development could have 'dramatic consequences' for the local economy. "They estimated the construction phase of the 59-acre development with central 12-story 300-room hotel could alone generate $186 million in construction spending with 1,500 workers employed. The permanent work force would average 2,500 workers, said Dennis Smith, president of the Law Co. at Wichita. "Yet, Knight said, the development would require no tax money, no bond issues and no land give-away because investors would fund everything. "That and the rest of the presentation was welcome enough economic development news that Commission Chairman Bob Hein moved to pass the question on to a yes or no mail-in public referendum. "…The approval put Marion County into an apparent race for casino approval with neighboring Harvey County, which Hein said has scheduled an election for the same purpose to be conducted in December…"
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