When it comes to distributing gaming revenue, Courtenay councillors are focusing on initiatives that benefit the entire Valley.Council discussed Monday how to spend the share of the profits at Chances that it receives as the host municipality. As a host local government of a gaming facility, the city has been receiving a share of the net gaming revenues since February 2008. Host local governments may use this revenue for “any purpose within their legal authority,” according to the report by Tillie Manthey, the city’s director of financial services.As of Dec. 31, there is a balance of $1,085,833 in gaming funds held in the gaming account.The city owes $473,987.80 to the developer for offsite works installed on behalf of the city, and council authorized staff to pay in full the outstanding balance, which would reduce the account balance to $611,833.The 2011-13 proposed distribution model focuses on grouping the distribution of funds into strategic distribution categories, with the intent that the funds will be predominantly distributed to projects or initiatives that benefit the entire Comox Valley, according to Manthey’s report.”There has been a common theme of wishing to do things that benefit the Valley as a whole,” said Manthey.City staff forecasts $700,000 in gaming revenues for 2011, $715,000 for 2012 and $725,000 for 2013.The distribution of funds is broken down into six categories — societies managing city arts and cultural facilities; council initiatives and projects; public safety and security; social/societal initiatives; infrastructure works; and green capital projects and innovation in city facilities.The city will distribute $150,000 in gaming funds to the Comox Valley Art Gallery Society, Courtenay and District Historical Society and the Sid Williams Theatre Society, and staff is recommending that the distribution to these three societies be reviewed annually. The annual distribution in the council initiatives and projects category would be at council discretion and may vary from year to year. For 2011, council would spend $70,000 for installing three bus shelters and other projects to be determined.Under the public safety and security category, the city will pay an estimated $290,000 to fund an increase in the RCMP establishment by two members.The social/societal initiatives includes $94,000 for the city’s share of the cost of the new regional service to fund emergency shelter and supportive housing. The requisition for this service will end in 2012, and beginning in 2013, a general provision for this category has been proposed.From then on, council will approve the distribution of these funds based on specific project proposals. The funds for infrastructure works will be approved by council based on specific project proposals over time.The intent of the green capital projects and innovation in city facilities category is to set aside funding to assist with the greening of city facilities, according to Manthey. Council will approve the actual distribution of these funds on specific project proposals over time.Coun. Murray Presley felt that items such as policing and supporting cultural societies, which benefit the entire Valley, were good ways to spend the gaming revenue.”I like the overall discussion that we had that this money because it’s generated in the Valley would be spent on things for the Valley,” he said. He was not as keen on supporting green capital projects that were strictly inside the city, as he would rather see projects that benefit the whole Valley.Coun. Jon Ambler liked the categories that were presented.”Each of them, you can look at it, and it makes sense, and I know each of them will come back, and we will vote on them internally, and that’s how it should be,” he said. “I think we’re taking something and actually doing lasting good with this money without putting it on the taxpayers’ back, which is already long-suffering, so I’m really excited about this.”writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Comox Valley Record