PEORIA, Ill. – New state rules that would benefit video gaming terminal operators would also cost Peoria small businesses.
“I don’t quite understand where this is coming from,” At-Large Council Member Sid Ruckriegel said Tuesday night. “The only guy who gets hurt on this…the only businesses that gets hurt…are our small businesses — the ones that have weathered
State law passed in December requires terminal operators and the businesses housing them to share in their costs.
The city is proposing keeping a $500 registration fee, shared now between operators and businesses, but cutting in half their $1,000 per terminal fee, that businesses will now be required to help pay.
“I’m not happy about this,” said At-Large Council Member Beth Jensen. “I understand what the law says, but it really seems to be screwing the local business owner.”
While essentially being forced to add a cost to small businesses, the also would lose some revenue by changing the fee.
A final vote by the City Council comes in two weeks, though Jensen asked the city to come up with some potential alternatives.
