WHEREAS the Alberta Minister of Finance has recently announced that base ministry spending is being cut 1% and Community Lottery Board funding is being cut 4.8%;AND WHEREAS some Community Lottery Boards have distributed their full 2001 funding allotments while other Community Lottery Boards are not being given the opportunity to distribute their full 2001 funding;AND WHEREAS some Community Lottery Boards have approved and committed to funding of Community Projects within their approved allotments and are now expected to cancel these same projects due to these provincial cutbacks;AND WHEREAS Alberta Lotteries and Gaming Revenues of $864 million dollars during the 1999/2000 fiscal year are expected to increase on a yearly basis;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties request the Government of Alberta to allow 2000/2001 funding allocations to all Community Lottery Boards to be distributed and to increase the funds available in the future to the Community Lottery Grants program from Alberta Gaming and Lotteries revenues.

Funds are provided to Community Lottery Boards (CLBs) from the Alberta Lottery Fund. These funds are used in various communities to enhance and enrich their initiatives.Alberta Lotteries and Gaming received $864 million from all revenue sources during the 1999/2000 fiscal year. $700 million of that comes directly from video lotteries and slot machines. These funds are being taken directly out of communities and going into provincial coffers.In November of 2001, the provincial government announced a decrease in funding to CLBs of 4.8%. This funding decrease is effective immediately for 2001 funds not already distributed by the provincial government.A letter to CLBs received from the provincial government has necessitated that some CLBs revise commitments previously made to community organizations and municipalities through reducing funding, which was previously committed either verbally or in writing. Some Community Lottery Boards will not be required to reduce their current funding levels because 2001 funds have been previously distributed, however, the impact on 2002 budgets of these same CLBs is unclear.At the 2001 AAMD&C Spring Convention, the delegates endorsed the following resolution:”THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties request the Government of Alberta to increase the funds available for dispersal through the Community Lottery Grants program from the funds taken in by Alberta Gaming and Lotteries and that the per capita allotment be increased.”