The Broward School Board backed away from opposing a March referendum to allow slot machines in frontons and race tracks after gambling interests promised Tuesday to fight for local schools getting "more than a fair share" of money from the devices.
"The first order of business was we have to make sure that Broward and Miami-Dade are taken care of over and above as our host counties," said Dan Adkins, a point man for the gaming industry's Floridians for a Level Playing Field.
School Board members unanimously approved a resolution that calls for cooperating with the gaming industry to lobby legislators when they decide who gets how much money later this spring.
Floridians approved a constitutional amendment in November allowing Broward and Miami-Dade voters to decide whether they will allow local horse tracks, dog tracks and jai alai frontons to install slot machines. If voters in the counties approve separate referendums to allow the increased gambling March 8, a piece of the gambling machine revenues would be shared with schools statewide.
Chairwoman Stephanie Kraft requested that the tracks and frontons give Broward schools a separate deal over and above a decision by the Legislature, but the overture was rejected Friday, leading her to propose a formal resolution advising voters to oppose slots.
"I was very concerned because there's no guarantee that Broward schools will get any money," Kraft said.
The gambling industry has made side deals with the county commissions and cities where the machines would be located to cover the cost of law enforcement and other expenses brought on by increased gambling.
Broward School Board members had been enraged that no one approached them with a side offer.
Board member Marty Rubinstein also suggested Broward schools oppose the March referendum, especially since the Legislature would probably ship out most of the money to other counties that won't have slots.
"Broward County should not be in the business of funding schools in Dade, Duval, Alachua or any other county in the state," Rubinstein said. "Broward County should get the lion's share of the revenue."
Adkins said Friday that his group could not cut an outside deal with schools because the Legislature was specifically charged with that duty.
Nevertheless, Broward schools deserve special consideration, according to board members.
"Everyone used us and education to walk them to the altar, only to leave us standing there," member Bob Parks said.
Adkins said his group was working with State Rep. Ron Greenstein, D-Coconut Creek, and Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, to draft legislation that outlined the amounts to be received in Broward.
Greenstein, a member of the Business Regulation Committee, told School Board members he would introduce a bill to reserve a yet-to-be determined amount of extra money for Broward and Miami-Dade schools. In Tallahassee, Geller said he also was considering a bill that had started with 2.5 percent of the slots revenue for Broward and Miami-Dade schools. But he conceded it would be an "uphill battle."
"This is going to be about horse trading and getting whatever we can get," Geller said. "Intuitively, it's fair. But that doesn't mean it will be aerodynamically sound."
That was seconded by Rep. Frank Atkinson, R-Kissimmee, chairman of the Business Regulations Committee.
"While you may say Broward and Miami-Dade have a valid argument," Atkinson said, "I'm not sure it will blend with the Constitution."
Staff Writer Linda Kleindienst contributed to this report.
( Bill Hirschman can be reached at bhirschman@ sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4513.)