2002-07  RESTORATION OF LOTTERY FUNDS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS

Past legislative action dedicated a 6.5% tax on lottery tickets (called "Lottery in Lieu") to the Heritage Fund which distributed the money to help fund state parks,  metro parks, zoos and the DNR Game and Fish Fund.  This was a rational use of this "Lottery in Lieu"  money since the original state lottery was marketed as a source of funding for state environmental programs.

Since then the legislature has reneged on this commitment by directing part of the "Lottery in Lieu" funds to the state general fund and is now proposing to use these funds for additional PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) payments to the three counties which contain the new ConCon Wildlife Management Area.

The Minnesota Division  of the IWLA strongly supports efforts to restore the full 100% of the "Lottery in Lieu" income to the parks, zoo, and wildlife agencies.  These agencies give the state the environmental and economic benefits envisioned in the state lottery legislation.  All PILT payments for wildlife management areas currently come from the state general fund, and there is no reason that these Co Con payments should come from the dedicated lottery account.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League of America in convention April 28, 2002, at Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, urges the legislature to restore 100% of the "Lottery in Lieu" sales tax funds to their original purpose of supporting environmental programs such as the parks, zoos and the state fish and game fund.

Jaques Chapter
MN Division of the IWLA