HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-104-11/21/2017-URGING THE COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PASS LEGISLATION DURING THE 2018 SESSION TO REAUTHORIZE THE RESOLUTION 2017-104
-OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
URGING THE COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PASS
LEGISLATION DURING THE 2018 SESSION TO REAUTHORIZE
THE COLORADO.LOTTERY DIVISION TO THE YEAR 2039
WHEREAS, Colorado voters provided for a statewide lottery in 1982, and in a subsequent
election in 1992, adopted the Great Outdoors Colorado ("GOCO") amendment to the state
constitution, which directs that lottery profits be used for parks, open space, wildlife, and outdoor
recreation purposes; and
WHEREAS, following voters' approval of a lottery, the General Assembly created a
Lottery Division in the State Department of Revenue in 1982 to administer the lottery; and
\ N
WHEREAS,as provided in the GOCO amendment,lottery profits are allocated to the Great
Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (the "GOCO Trust Fund"), the Conservation Trust Fund, and to
the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife; and
WHEREAS, since 1992, the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (the
"GOGO Board") has distributed from the GOCO Trust Fund approximately $1 billion in grants
for projects to improve communities in all of Colorado's 64 counties which funds have helped
connect families to the outdoors, improved local trails and parks, build outdoor recreation
facilities, preserve ranchlands, water resources, and view corridors, improve river access and
quality and conserve wildlife habitat; and
WHEREAS, the GOCO Board has distributed from the GOCO Trust Fund over$8 million
directly to the City of Fort Collins; and
WHEREAS, since 1983, the GOCO Board has distributed from the Conservation Trust
Fund approximately $1 billion in grants to counties, municipalities, and special districts for
acquisition, development, and maintenance of new conservation sites, capital improvements, and
maintenance for recreational purposes on public sites; and
WHEREAS, the GOCO Board has distributed from the Conservation Trust Fund over$32
million directly to the City of Fort Collins; and
WHEREAS, since 1992, the GOCO Board has distributed from the GOCO Trust Fund
approximately $125 million of lottery proceeds in support of Colorado's 42 state parks, funding
parkland acquisition, park development and operations,. trail construction and maintenance,
environmental education, youth and volunteer programs and stewardship and natural resources
management; and
WHEREAS, the Colorado Lottery Division is critical to the administration of the entire
GOCO program and the Division is set to expire unless extended by the General Assembly,which
during its 2018 session, will consider legislation to extend the Division to 2039; and
1
WHEREAS, the City has adopted a Legislative Agenda that includes four points related to
the reauthorization of the Colorado lottery division, including, support for maintaining or
enhancing funding for parks, trails, forestry, horticulture, recreation services, and facilities;
support for local discretion to use GOCO and other sources for funding municipal government
projects addressing local needs and priorities; support for equal or greater funding levels of GOCO
grants awarded to municipalities; and support for additional funding for conservation programs,
including reinstating Colorado Parks and Wildlife license fees to at least 2005 levels.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS, as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the City Council strongly urges the General Assembly to approve
legislation during its 2018 session to reauthorize the Colorado Lottery Division until 2039.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 21 st
day of November, A.D. 2017.
Mayor
ATTEST:
FLIRT CO`GZ
1�
" SEAL N
City C6kk
cQ•....pip
-2-