Other than the small cities, who else receives money from the casinos?

The Calcasieu Parish Gaming Revenue District, created in 2007, disburses money paid by local riverboats and Delta Downs’ slots operation to the Police Jury; the city of Lake Charles; the Port of Lake Charles; the Calcasieu Parish School Board, McNeese State University and Sowela Technical Community College; and the so-called small cities — Vinton, Sulphur, DeQuincy and Iowa.

Disbursement amounts for 2011, according to a state Legislative Auditor’s Office report on parish finances that was released last summer:

Lake Charles — $9,188,586.

Police Jury — $9,188,586.

Port of Lake Charles — $2,264,230.

Vinton — $193,172.

Sulphur — $423,542.

DeQuincy — $193,521.

Iowa — $189,767.

According to the report, the educational entities that year split $3,168,070 — with the School Board getting 60 percent, McNeese getting 30 percent and Sowela getting 10 percent.

District disbursements for 2012, according to data provided by parish officials:

Lake Charles — $9,964,395.23.

Police Jury — $9,964,395.23.

Port of Lake Charles — $2,329,369.55.

Vinton — $193,038.

Sulphur — $423,473.

DeQuincy — $193,346.

Iowa — $190,143.

School Board — $1,982,151.07.

McNeese — $991,075.54.

Sowela — $330,358.49.

State law authorizes Westlake to be a party to the agreement, but the city — which negotiated a deal with Isle of Capri — isn’t a member of the district.

Still, said Jimmy Ashworth, Westlake finance director, some money from Isle’s remaining riverboat is distributed to the city via the district.

Ashworth said the city receives a set amount each year in head tax money, along with an “infrastructure fee,” a percentage of the boat’s revenue.

Under Westlake’s agreement with the company, he said, the infrastructure fee, pegged at 0.35 percent in 2012, will gradually decline over the next couple of years — going to 0.25 percent this year, 0.15 percent in 2014, and 0.10 percent for 2015-2023.

The infrastructure fee for 2012 amounted to $401,850.29, according to parish data. According to its latest audit report, released in March, Westlake took in $1,535,095 in gambling money in fiscal year 2011-2012.

The head tax, which amounted to $770,000 in 2012, will decline to $670,000 next year and then to $585,000 in 2014, Ashworth said.

Online: www.cppj.net.

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com

(mgnonline.com)