Throughout San Diego County, weíve seen the financial benefits of Indian gaming. San Diegans and tourists now enjoy entertainment venues ranging from small casinos with just a few slot machines to glittering resorts with golf courses and live entertainment. These operations have benefited our regional economy by creating 13,000 new jobs and generating an estimated $1.5 billion in gross revenues.

Now the state of California is facing such a huge budget deficit that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to declare a "fiscal emergency" in January. Heís considering across-the-board cuts in state agency spending, and more drastic measures may be needed if the housing slump continues to depress revenues.

On Feb. 5, Californians can help ease the stateís budget woes by approving Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97. These measures would bring an extra $9 billion into the stateís coffers over the next two decades by ratifying Indian gaming compacts negotiated by Schwarzenegger and approved by a bipartisan majority in the Legislature. That much-needed new revenue can be used by the state to avoid service cuts for fire protection, health care and other programs.

Under the compacts, the tribes will pay a much higher percentage of gaming revenue to the state. The compacts also provide increased oversight by local government over any new casino projects. The new agreements require full environmental impact reports and a binding agreement with the county to ensure full mitigation of any environmental impacts from new projects.

A broad statewide coalition is supporting Props. 94, 95, 96 and 97, including the governor, fire and law enforcement groups, seniors, the California Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations. The opposition is funded and directed by gaming interests that donít want the competition and donít see the common interest.

Under the compacts, there will be no expansion of gaming locations. Four Southern California tribes will be authorized to add a limited number of new slot machines on their existing tribal lands in Riverside and San Diego counties.

Only one of the four compacts on the February ballot is in San Diego County ---- the Sycuan Casino near El Cajon. Sycuan is recognized as one of the regionís leading corporate citizens, giving back millions each year to charitable causes, most recently donating $500,000 to the After the Fires Fund to help victims of the recent wildfires. Sycuan alone employs more than 4,000 San Diegans in its tribal businesses. Under the new compact, Sycuan would be permitted to add new slot machines, but it also would pay up to $20 million more per year in revenue to the state.

These positive impacts of Indian gaming on our economy are the primary reasons that the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce has joined with other business groups from throughout the state to urge a Yes vote Feb. 5 on Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97.

Ted Owen is the president and chief executive officer of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.

Tribal gaming agreements: Good for North County and our state

Ted Owen, President and CEO, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce

Throughout San Diego County, weíve seen the financial benefits of Indian gaming. San Diegans and tourists now enjoy entertainment venues ranging from small casinos with just a few slot machines to glittering resorts with golf courses and live entertainment. These operations have benefited our regional economy by creating 13,000 new jobs and generating an estimated $1.5 billion in gross revenues.

Now, the state of California is facing such a huge budget deficit that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to declare a ìfiscal emergencyî in January. Heís considering across-the-board cuts in state agency spending, and more drastic measures may be needed if the housing slump continues to depress revenues.

On Feb. 5, Californians can help ease the stateís budget woes by approving Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97. These measures would bring an extra $9 billion into the stateís coffers over the next two decades by ratifying Indian gaming compacts negotiated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and approved by a bipartisan majority in the Legislature.

That much-needed new revenue can be used by the state to avoid service cuts for fire protection, health care and other programs.

Under the compacts, the tribes will pay a much higher percentage of gaming revenue to the state. The compacts also provide increased oversight by local government over any new casino projects. The new agreements require full environmental impact reports and a binding agreement with the county to ensure full mitigation of any environmental impacts from new projects.

A broad statewide coalition is supporting Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97, including the governor, fire and law enforcement groups, seniors, the California Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations. The opposition is funded and directed by gaming interests that donít want the competition and donít see the common interest.

Under the compacts, there will be no expansion of gaming locations. Four Southern California tribes will be authorized to add a limited number of new slot machines on their existing tribal lands in Riverside and San Diego counties.

Only one of the four compacts on the February ballot is in San Diego County ñ the Sycuan Casino near El Cajon. Sycuan is recognized as one of the regionís leading corporate citizens, giving back millions each year to charitable causes, most recently donating $500,000 to the After the Fires Fund to help victims of the recent wildfires. Sycuan alone employs more than 4,000 San Diegans in its tribal businesses. Under the new compact, Sycuan would be permitted to add new slot machines, but it also would pay up to $20 million more per year in revenue to the state.

These positive impacts of Indian gaming on our economy are the primary reason that the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce has joined with other business groups from throughout the state to urge a Yes vote Feb. 5 on Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97.

Ted Owen is the president and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.