We have no doubt that many Ohio voters who said "yes" to gambling casinos last week were thinking of the state's dramatic budget crisis when they cast their ballots. The casinos are expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenue in to local and state governments each year.

But much of the money is earmarked for local governments, schools and specific state programs. The casinos will do virtually nothing in the great scheme of budget things to rescue state government.

And before Ohioans get too comfortable with the new money, we urge them to glance across the river to West Virginia. Here, our state government has come to rely too much on gambling revenue. With new competition from Pennsylvania and yes, Ohio, some of that cash will be going away.

Casino gambling in Ohio is not a quick fix. It is not even a good band-aid. At both local and state levels, dramatic action needs to be taken soon to keep budgets in balance - without new taxes that will hurt Ohio families and the state's economy.

It appears to us that local government leaders in East Ohio are ahead of state officials in addressing that concern. We urge them to keep up the good work - and convince Gov. Ted Strickland and state legislators to follow their lead.