HOUSTON -- With the budget hammer striking down across Texas some lawmakers say now is the time to make casinos legal.
The states money woes trickle down completely and in Hitchcock, Texas a potential $2 million cut in state funding could be draconian.
While the school board met in executive session debating if it should declare a financial emergency, educators looked to Austin for help.
"It is not surprising, at all, they are trying to find way to bring revenue into the state to help all of the different areas education, or whatever it may be," said Hitchcock Educator Terri Jones.
State lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday on 17 different plans to bring casino gaming to Texas.
The biggest is a proposal for a constitutional amendment that would tap what supporters say is the largest untapped casino market in America.
"Would call for eight integrated large resort destination type casinos and the eight tracks to have slot machines," said Jack Pratt with the Texas Gaming Association.
Each license would cost a cool $50 million. Add gaming taxes and the association thinks it would raise $1.2 billion.
Casino gambling has never found much footing in Texas, but the road takes plenty of twists when budgets are billions short
Under this plan Texas voters would decide, but even the voters dedicated enough to hear from their school board in person are skeptical.
"You know we heard it when they brought the lottery in and haven't seen a whole lot from that so I am skeptical," said Christy Arsenis, a Hitchcock resident.
Joanna Mora, another Hitchcock resident, agreed.
“There is no guarantee. It has to be allotted for education. That would get my vote," she said.
Hitchcock would be very close to gambling if this were approved.
Gulf Greyhound Park would gain slot machines, and across the causeway in Galveston.
Landry's restaurants owner Tilman Fertita says he could be up and running weeks after a plan is approved. He said it would inject billions into local economies with thousands of jobs and plenty of construction.
Committee members still are considering the proposals.
