Attachment 3

AUMA

2002 Resolution No.__

Edmonton

Restoration of Community Lottery Grants

and Community Lottery Boards

WHEREAS: Albertans told the Province through a province-wide public consultation process that communities should share directly in VLT and lottery revenues and should have a direct role in deciding how lottery funds will be used to meet local needs and priorities.

WHEREAS: the Province’s Lotteries Review Committee released its report, New Directions for Lotteries and Gaming in August 31, 1995 which incorporated the results of the consultation process.

WHEREAS: the Province previously acknowledged in its rationale for establishing the Community Lottery Board Program that communities are best able to set their own priorities, assess their own needs and make their own funding decisions.

WHEREAS: the Community Lottery Board Program outlined 4 Provincial Program Objectives, namely:

1.  enhance and enrich community-based initiatives;

2.  provide for a local decision-making process;

3.  re-invest into Alberta communities revenues generated from video lottery terminals;

4.  empower local citizens, community organizations and municipalities to work together in addressing their local and regional needs and priorities.

WHEREAS: on March 19, 2002 with the announcement of the 2002/03 Provincial Budget the Community Lottery Board Program was terminated by the Province.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association request that the Government of Alberta reinstate the Alberta Community Lottery Board Grant Program to provide funds for community-based initiatives through a local decision making process.

BACKGROUND

Alberta Gaming has provided the 88 regional Community Lottery Boards with $202 million over the past 4 years of the Program. The Community Lottery Board Grant Program promoted the development of Alberta’s communities and increased the capacity of community organizations. The program provided grant funds to enrich and enhance project-based initiatives in community services, recreation, culture, libraries, parks, health, education, social services and the environment.

The City of Edmonton and community organizations within Edmonton have been significantly impacted by funds provided through the Community Lottery Board Grant Program.

Year / City of Edmonton
Grant Awards / Community Organizations in Edmonton
Grant Awards / Total
Grant Awards for Edmonton
2001 / 2002 / $561,362 / $10,685,631 / $11,246,993
2000 / 2001 / $1,191,426 / $10,599,126 / $11,790,552
1999 / 2000 / $779,000 / $10,186,877 / $10,965,877
1998 / 1999 / $732,000 / $10,361,478 / $11,084,478
TOTAL / $3,254,788 / $41,833,112 / $45,087,900

The Alberta Lottery Fund revenues from VLT’s have increased significantly over the past four years. In 1996/97, the year prior to the establishment of the Community Lottery Board Program, VLT revenues to the Alberta Lottery Fund were 459.6 million. The total revenues to the Alberta Lottery Fund in 2000/01 were 1.001 Billion; the VLT portion of these revenues was 575.1 million. This represents a 25% revenue increase over the past four years in VLT revenues.

The Community Lottery Program, according to the Provincial Government in the Community Lottery Board Handbook, broke new ground in provincial grant programs by providing a broad-based funding focus and a locally determined granting process. This process was unique in its capacity to enhance regional/community initiatives.

The Community Lottery Board Handbook also identified Provincial Program Principles for the Community Lottery Board Program:

·  Communities have the best knowledge about local priorities and needs. Therefore, funding decisions should be made at the regional/community level. Operating within the provincial guidelines, each CLB will decide how it will use these funds to invest in, and add value to, the community. The Community Lottery Board Grant Program is community-based and citizen-driven.

·  CLB will set granting parameters at the regional/community level (e.g., funding priorities, grant making processes, project revenue sources, matching levels if any.)

·  CLBs will need to demonstrate to community residents that local grant funds have been invested in programs and initiatives that enhance and benefit the community.