HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-093-08/19/2003-EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION TITLED VIDEO LOTTERY/TOUR RESOLUTION 2003-093
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION TITLED VIDEO LOTTERY/TOURISM PROMOTION
WHEREAS, a measure is being proposed for the November statewide ballot to place
thousands of video lottery terminals into five existing race tracks,including Cloverleaf Kennel Club
in Latimer County, as well as tracks in the cities of Aurora,Colorado Springs,Commerce City and
Pueblo; and
WHEREAS, none of the local communities or their elected decision-makers, public safety
officials, school districts,or economic development offices were consulted,advised or informed by
the amendment sponsors as to the placement of casinos in their communities,nor have the sponsors
sought counsel as to the negative impacts that such video lottery terminals might have on any of
these communities; and
WHEREAS, the amendment removes local control by denying Latimer County citizens the
opportunity for a local vote on whether they want a casino in their county, a right granted to
Colorado cities and counties in a 1992 statewide voter-approved constitutional amendment; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that tourism promotion for Colorado is a statewide
concern, and that the above stated communities should not be singled out to assume the burden of
hosting casinos to generate revenue for the state's tourism promotion fund; and
WHEREAS,contrary to current casino law that requires up to 35% of the gaming tax to be
earmarked for reimbursement to city and county local governments to offset gambling impacts, no
casino revenue will be set aside for Latimer county or any one of the other four racetrack
communities, to compensate them for the public and social expense of having a full-time casino
operating in their jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS,the effect of placing thousands of video lottery terminals along the Front Range
will diminish consumer demand for the existing mountain casinos, thereby diminishing the local
government fund that distributed$150 million in grants to cities and counties during the past decade
for historic preservation, including 96 grants provided in Latimer County since 1992.
NOW,THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS opposes the constitutional amendment authorizing video lottery terminals at
racetracks and urges the defeat of this measure at the November 4, 2003 coordinated election.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 19th day of August,
A.D. 2003.
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City Clerk