City out of luck when it comes to gaming revenues

The City of Vernon will likely see a 1.6 million dollar shortfall in this year’s casino gaming funds due to operations like Lake City Casino being shut down during the pandemic.

Cities get a share of the money made at gaming outlets in a provincial program that funds infrastructure and other municipal projects.

Vernon was expected to receive about $2 million in 2020.

“We received $342,000 in the first quarter [when casinos were partly operating]. We expected perhaps a half million, and we will not get any more for the rest of the year, so we’re about $1.6 million short, a substantial amount,” said Mayor Victor Cumming.