The state teachers union announced yesterday that it had voted to support the November referendum to legalize slot machines.

Before the vote, Senate President Thomas V. Miller warned the union about the dangers of not supporting the referendum. The state is facing budget cuts, so the teachers risked to be negatively affected without the slot referendum passing.

The union, which counts around 70,000 members, said it would launch a campaign to convince voters that the passing of the referendum is very important in funding education priorities.

Because of our state's precarious fiscal outlook, if this referendum fails, students, teachers and support staff will be left with outdated facilities, larger classes, outdated textbooks and shortages of materials," said board President Clara Floyd in a statement, according to The Washington Post. "School systems will be left with fewer resources to recruit and retain the best teachers and support staff."

Slot machine gambling, estimated to reap around $600 million in revenue annually, could help the state solve its fiscal problems.

President Clara Floyd said an Education Trust Fund would be established, which would dedicate half of future proceeds to the public schools.

"The referendum establishes an Education Trust Fund and dedicates half of future proceeds to our public schools. It provides Maryland with an additional source of funding, beginning with licensing fees in early 2009," Floyd said, according to the Washington Times.

Slots opponents are saddened by the union’s vote. Aaron Meisner, chairman of the StopSlots Maryland, said the referendum proves that education is not a priority for the state.

"Education is supposed to be the priority," Meisner said. "But what he's saying here is that unless we get this windfall, we're not going to fund our very first priority. It's an odd message to send - not only to the students and teachers but to everybody who supports education - that the way you fund this is with your last dollar."