MONTICELLO – A committee of the Sullivan County Legislature is on record opposing a state takeover of Catskill Off-Track Betting Corporation.  The main fear is loss of revenue.

County Manager David Fanslau said the county has reaped over $700,000 from OTB, and if the current arrangement is lost, property taxes would increase by two percent to make up the difference.

Neighboring Orange County has voiced similar concern.

The Sullivan legislature’s Community and Economic Development Committee unanimously voted to support keeping the current arrangement.  The resolution notes that Catskill OTB has a national reputation for ‘best in the nation’ distribution of per capita benefits to member counties.

"What we are asking is for the Catskill OTB to remain as an independent OTB and not merge on a statewide basis, or to bail out the OTBs in the city", said Fanslau.