County reports voter-registration totals and clarifies mini-casino will not pay the county directly

Centre County reported 102,070 registered voters and reminded residents of upcoming election deadlines, while commissioners also clarified how anticipated taxes from a new mini-casino will be handled.

Commissioner Concepcion gave the voter-registration report: "We have 102,070 total voters registered in Center County," including 41,467 Democrats, 41,904 Republicans, 15,990 no-affiliation voters and 1,982 voters in other minor parties. The board reminded residents the registration deadline for the primary is May 4 at 5 p.m. and the deadline to request a mail-in ballot is May 12 at 5 p.m.

During press questions, a participant cited a feasibility study that said the township and the county would each receive about $1,000,000 per year from the casino; Chair clarified that for a category-4 "mini casino" Centre County government "will be receiving no direct funds from the casino, not a penny," and that any local-share grants are administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority in Harrisburg and would not appear directly in the county general fund. Chair noted the township might eventually receive funds and said the competitive local share program’s timing and amounts were uncertain.

The board also addressed a report of about 15 stolen military markers at Milesburg Cemetery and said veterans affairs maintains a stockpile of replacement emblems to facilitate replacements.