LETTER: Missouri casinos proud to be good corporate citizens of the state

When Missouri voters passed Proposition A in November 2008, they did so with specific assurances about how the new money for Missouri schools would be spent.

Prop. A created the new "Schools First Elementary and Secondary Education Improvement Fund” to administer the new gaming revenue, and it required the state to audit the fund each year. These provisions were included in Prop. A to make sure that the money for schools would not be diverted.

Despite any changes that might be made to Prop. A provisions, Missouri casinos continue to fulfill our commitment to Missouri schools on a daily basis, when we wire 21 percent of our adjusted gross revenue to the state.

Missouri casinos have provided more than $2.5 billion to the schools since 1994. We employ more than 10,000 people and pay more than $85 million a year in fees to the local communities where we’re located. The Missouri casino industry is proud to be a good corporate citizen in the state.

That’s something the residents of Missouri can depend on, no matter what decisions the legislature makes.