Bureaucrats Waste Problem Gambling Funds in Rural Area

The effort to fight the insidious disease of compulsive gambling is commendable, except bureaucratic rules are sending funding to rural counties far from casinos or gaming venues.

The state of New York has set aside almost five million dollars to combat problem gambling, to be distributed throughout the state. The effort to fight the insidious disease of compulsive gambling is commendable, except bureaucratic rules are sending funding to rural counties far from casinos or gaming venues.

The Board of Supervisors in Washington County wants permission to use $63,000 earmarked for gambling disorders to treat problems more prevalent in the area. The county lies against the border of Vermont, with a population of only 60,000 and no cities, The area's economy is agricultural.

"The biggest problem we have here is underage drinking and the smoking that young people do," said board member Bob Shay. "I'd be more interested in teenage health."

Despite county officials feeling there are far better uses for the money, state authorities say it cannot be returned to the state budget or used for other purposes.

"This money has been allocated for this program," said Rob York, director of Community Services in the county Mental Health Department. The funds will be used to operate problem gambling prevention programs at area schools.

The issue illustrates the difficulty in making sure money allocated to treat compulsive gaming is spent effectively. Bureaucratic rules sometimes enforce spending that defies common sense, leading to misuse of revenue that could be used far more wisely elsewhere, or for concerns more applicable to the area.