PITTSBURGH -- A $780 million Majestic Star Casino is projected to be a sparkling new economic generator for the Pittsburgh region, but there are new questions about funding.

Owner Don Barden has until Monday to come up with $10 million for the contractors who are building his casino on the North Shore. If the payment is missed, work could stop or slow down, and the city would suffer financially.

"Are we concerned, and closely monitoring everything? Absolutely," Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, representatives of the state Gaming Control Board toured the work site and said they were satisfied with the progress they saw, but they may have to get further involved.

"We need to continue to move this project forward," Ravenstahl said. "We need to continue the construction, and Mr. Barden obviously needs to find a way to get the financing in place."

If work on the casino comes to a halt, Ravenstahl acknowledged it would be a major setback felt throughout the city and the surrounding region.

"There is a lot on the line here," Ravenstahl said. "We have a new arena (to replace Mellon Arena) that needs $7.5 million a year from the casino operator."

"We need this (casino) to open in May of '09," Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said. "That's when we were told it would open. It gives operating revenue to both the city and the county."

Ravenstahl said Barden has assured him the money will be taken care of.

"He's still working on his finances and hopes to have a plan there, but we had a brief conversation," Ravenstahl said. "He did commit to me that he will make sure those folks are paid for the work that they've done."

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