Casino Payments to be Delayed

Officials who distribute local revenue-sharing proceeds from the Odawa Casino Resort have agreed to hold onto much of the latest payment until a dispute over its allocation can be settled.

Three local educational institutions — Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District, North Central Michigan College and Public Schools of Petoskey — are legally challenging the approach which the Emmet County Local Revenue Sharing Board takes to the allocation of casino funds.

Last month, the schools and college sought an injunction to put this fall’s revenue-sharing distribution on hold until the differences could be resolved.

But Dennis Cawthorne, an attorney representing the educational institutions in their suit against the revenue board and Emmet County treasurer’s office, said an agreement the parties reached Tuesday eliminated the need for the injunction.

For the complete story, please see Ryan Bentley, Agreement reached to delay casino revenue-sharing payments, Petoskey News-Review, November 20, 2008.