Dane County workers could benefit from gambling deal

Associated Press

Monday, November 24, 2003

Madison -- Dane County's gambling deal with the Ho-Chunk Nation would allow the union representing county workers to renegotiate wages.

Contracts with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee unions call for renegotiating wages if the county finds a new significant source of revenue next year, said Topf Wells, County Executive Kathleen Falk's chief of staff.

The county and the City of Madison stand to gain at least $90 million over the next 12 years if voters agree in a referendum to allow the tribe to expand its Madison bingo parlor to a casino. The County Board will vote Monday night whether to schedule the referendum Feb. 17.

County officials already are talking about ways to spend the money. But county union workers may get their cut before the board touches a dime.

Union contracts call for a 1% raise late next year, a 2.5% raise June 26, 2005, a 1% raise Dec. 25, 2005, and a 3% raise in 2006. Falk agreed to no layoffs in exchange for no cost-of-living increase next year.

The county struggled to put together a $399 million budget for 2004. It made cuts in almost every department to make up for a loss of about $7 million in state money.

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