Tax revenue from Maryland's casinos will be devoted to schools, Maryland voters said Tuesday, approving Question 1.
The ballot measure asked voters to decide on an amendment to the state constitution that will require casino revenue to be set aside for schools in order to enhance education spending above state funding formulas.
The revenue from video lottery operation licenses and any other commercial gaming from casinos in the state will be used as supplemental funding for pre-K through 12th grade in public schools. The amendment will require the governor to begin including it in the annual budget, beginning in fiscal year 2020.
Proponents said the amendment would help schools that are already overstretched.
But opponents argued that because the amendment would lock down how the money would be used, it would prevent opportunities to help fund hospitals, infrastructure, mental health care or other priorities, as the Washington Post editorial board noted in a recent opinion piece.
