Burlington City Council will wait until after the Nov. 5 gambling boat referendum before it decides what to do with two–thirds of the city's annual share of Catfish Bend Riverboat Casino revenues. Residents are set to vote next month on a 10–year extension of Catfish Bend's gambling license. The city, in its last agreement with the riverboat, decided to use annual gambling revenues of about $368,000 for riverfront improvements. If the Nov. 5 referendum passes, the city plans to use about $108,000 of its annual gambling revenues for maintaining those riverfront improvements, but the council remains uncertain on what to do with the other $260,000. The council has entertained thoughts of using the excess funding for sidewalk improvements, bike trails and youth and senior programs, but has yet to take formal action. Mayor Tim Scott said Friday a decision won't be made until after the vote. "We want to do it right and with plenty of public input," he said. Although City Manager Bruce Slagle believes it would be best if the public knew what the money was going to be used for before the referendum, Scott doesn't agree. The mayor said there is not enough time to get public feedback on the best uses for the money. "We don't want to propose a resolution and have people come forward against it and then have to try to make changes right before the referendum," Scott said. However, Scott believes "we could have something done by the end of the year." Scott compared the council's decision to wait until after the election to the way the city handled its new job–creation incentive fund. Before residents voted to renew the 1–cent local–option sales in August, the council knew that a portion of the annual proceeds would be used for the new job fund. Councilman Mike Edwards presented an idea months before the vote that included setting aside 5 percent, or $150,000, of the sales tax annually to be used for the job fund. The job fund is intended to serve as a carrot to lure new industry — and higher paying jobs — to Burlington. The council formed a five–member economic advisory board to make recommendations to the city as to which new businesses would be eligible for funding from the job fund. However, the new committee has yet to present a formalized plan to the council as to what qualifies an outside business to receive funding, Scott said. "It will be a lot like what we did with the local–option sales tax," Scott said. "We're still formalizing that economic development fund."