PEKIN, Ill. – The City of Pekin will once again start to collect its share of video gaming revenue, after months of holding off as they determined what to do about it.
The Pekin City Council this week voted in favor of changing the video gaming fee structure so that instead of a thousand dollars per quarter per terminal, either the business or the terminal operator would pay two and a half percent of a terminal’s earnings per quarter.
But Council Member Lloyd Orrick doesn’t like that one bit.
“We’re saying that ‘we want more of your money. Your costs go up, our costs have went up. So, give us some of your money,’” said Orrick.
City officials say that’s just not true. They say 60 percent of video gaming locations in town will actually end up paying less.
“Under this new fee model, 60 percent of current establishments would see a savings over what is currently in place,” said Mark Rothert, City Manager.
Unlike a city council meeting several weeks ago where terminal operators filled the room, none were in attendance this week.
The city’s share of the fee is expected to go to police and fire pensions.
