Polson City Council is wanting to move forward in annexing land for a new casino by the Polson airport. A Casino is not what our area needs for jobs or recreation. A casino provides zero for a community, a casino only takes from the community. This has been proven by governmental studies like the one here; "Effects of Casino Gambling on Crime and Quality of Life in New Casino Jurisdictions, Final Report (ojp.gov)".

We already have an overwhelming amount of crime in our community. So much so that the jail has made the news several times. Bringing a new casino will only increase crime (burglary, murders, prostitution, drugs, alcoholism, spousal abuse, child abuse, and suicide). This can be read in the study mentioned above. Research from 2016 shows that Montana as a whole has the highest rate of suicide above any state in the Union. National average is 13.5 suicides per 1,000 and Montana sits at 26 suicides per 1,000. 2015 research shows the Flathead Reservation has a poverty level of 23.6%. This is double the national poverty level. A casino will only increase these numbers.

Supposedly this casino will create job opportunities. But for whom? According to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report, "Other citizens testified to the lack of job security they had encountered in tribal casinos, the absence of federal and state anti-discrimination laws, and the lack of workers' compensation benefits".

We are asking the citizens of Lake County to stand together. Let our voices be heard that we want our local government to make wiser decisions concerning the spending of our tax-dollars. There is so much more that this county needs before giving more funds to a casino. So right there the casino is already taking from us, and it has not even been built yet.