Elgin`s mayor said Tuesday he believes an advisory referendum on gambling proposed by a Kane County citizen`s group would have no impact on the city`s effort to land a riverboat casino.
”I always welcome citizen input into government, but I don`t see a direct effect because we have a signed agreement,” Mayor George VanDeVoorde said.
Elgin has struck a deal with a gaming company to build a riverboat casino on the Fox River in the downtown area. The project needs a state license to proceed.
Concerned about the economic benefits of government relying on gambling for revenue, the group, Citizens Against More Legalized Gambling, submitted petitions Monday calling for a countywide advisory referendum on the issue in the November election.
Rolland Lange, a spokesman for the group, said it had ”serious reservations” about the Elgin proposal.
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”We feel the economic benefits are not quite as rosy as they may be represented,” he said, ”and we`re concerned about the amount of money that leaves the state.”
Lange conceded that it would be difficult to overturn Elgin`s signed agreement, but he said the referendum, which would not be binding, would serve a greater purpose.
”It`s directed at the entire county, Elgin included, to get people to think carefully about what we see as a shift in the way government is trying to find revenue.”