NIFA: Show us the money from VTS

Several Nassau Republicans and Democrats last week agreed the most likely place for Nassau’s video lottery terminals is Belmont Racetrack -- with an announcement promised by County Executive Edward Mangano by Dec. 1.

Some said the VLTS will be part of a larger revitalization plan for the racetrack which runs along Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont, adjacent to the New York City border.

David Chauvin, spokesman for Nassau’s Off-Track Betting Corp., which will make the final decision on the site, had no immediate comment about the speculation that Belmont will be the choice.

Mangano has put $20 million in expected revenues from VLTS into his budget next year — money that the county’s financial control board, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority —  has termed risky.

NIFA Chairman Jon Kaiman said merely identifying a site for the VLTS is not enough for the control board to consider the revenues to be a sure thing.

“Our position is its a risk,” Kaiman said. “If they find a site, open up and start collecting money by Dec. 30, that might mitigate the risk.”

He noted, “They had a site once before. Once they identify it, let’s see what happens. From our financial standpoint, we want to see the dollars come in.”

OTB had announced plans to put the VLTS in the old Fortunoff department store in Westbury but community opposition killed the plan.

“Its a risk until they make it real, even if its rumored or identified,” Kaiman said. “Show us the money.”