Cook, Alterici clash over LSA funding

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
A Charleroi council agenda meeting turned tense on Wednesday after a local legislator switched the script for his intended discussion and began campaigning for changes to the way gaming revenue is distributed in Washington County.
State Rep. Bud Cook, R-West Pike Run Township, attended the meeting to talk about the state’s Early Intervention Program. Instead, he began discussing his perceived problems with transparency and accountability related to the Washington County Local Share Account Program.
LSA funding regulation varies from county to county under current state law.
In Washington County, LSA money is generated from revenues at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino in North Strabane Township.
Washington County requires a portion of the funding be awarded as grants through the state Department of Community and Economic Development for county public interest projects.
Grants are awarded to community organizations for improvements, municipal projects, job training and economic development plans.
Before Cook spoke, he passed out a press release dated April 17 outlining his proposed legislation to change the LSA process and a map of the 49th District. A member of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, he is seeking co-sponsors for his legislation, which would require Local Share Account grant funding be distributed directly to Washington County school districts for the purpose of achieving additional property tax relief for homeowners.
Councilman Mark Alterici, who is opposed to Cook’s proposal to change the LSA funding structure, questioned Cook’s purpose attending their council meeting,
“I am going to ask one question before you even start Bud,” Alterici said. “…What you called Roberta (Doerfler) about was to talk about the Early Intervention Program, but the paperwork you are giving us is about the LSA process.”

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