Governor Cuomo announced last week that $30.2 million in license fees from the new casinos in New York State will be distributed to twenty-two counties and three municipalities. Ulster County was slated to receive $918,687, and Orange County will get $1,876,777.

No word yet from Robert Neuhaus in Goshen on what this money might be spent on. In Ulster County, the money was already promised and accounted for as part of last year's "Ellenville Million," augmented by county funds.

"This funding will help counties and local governments provide essential services to their residents as well as work to reduce their tax burden," said Governor Cuomo. "These destination resorts will help drive more tourism and economic development dollars upstate and, with these payments, local governments are already seeing the benefits of these projects."

The money for the counties is just part of the $151 million in commercial casino license fees that are being distributed across upstate using the same formula for casino gaming revenue laid out in the Upstate New York Gaming and Economic Development Act of 2013 — 80 percent will be applied statewide for school aid/property tax relief; 10 percent will be split between host municipality and county; and 10 percent will go to counties in the regions established by the act based on population.

Thus, the Catskills/Hudson Valley will be sharing $10.2 million. The town of Thompson and Sullivan County will get the lion's share — $5.1 million split 50-50 — because they will be the hosts for the Montreign Casino when it is eventually built and opened. The remaining $5.1 million will be divided between the other Hudson Valley counties.

The remainder of the money from license fees, $120 million, will be going to public schools statewide, as determined by the state's formula for providing aid.