The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and the Town of Innisfil

How it all Began

On December 1, 1999, the Town of Innisfil (the "Town") executed a Contribution Agreement with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) with respect to the OLG facility located at the Georgian Downs Racetrack. The Agreement provides that the Town receives 5% of the "Net Win" from the first 450 Slot Machines and a declining percentage on the remaining Slot Machines. The Agreement continues in full force and effect, unless otherwise agreed, until such time as the Slot Machines are no longer at Georgian Downs.

In an effort to provide the necessary servicing required to support the Georgian Downs facility, the Town entered into cost sharing agreements with different parties. The agreement with the Ministry of Transportation for Ontario (MTO) provided for interchange improvements at Highway 400 and Innisfil Beach Road. The Town agreed to contribute $400,000 towards the cost of these improvements which was estimated at a total of $2,700,000. The Town also entered into an Agreement with the OLG to provide additional water, wastewater and roadway infrastructure and provided a total of $1,600,000 towards these improvements.

Policy History

The funds received from the OLG can be utilized completely at the discretion of the Town. As such, the Town began to develop policies and procedures surrounding the use of the funds in early 2002. In accordance with Council Resolution #CR-058.02, approved on February 20, 2002 the following guidelines were established:

1. These funds be used for capital purposes only not to offset operational costs except for debt retirement purposes;
2. These funds only be expended after they have been received;
3. Funds need not be spent in the year received however must be held in a separate reserve for allocation;
4. A direct accounting process be put in place that provided identification of funds received and what expenditures have been made with these funds;
5. A Community Reinvestment Fund be created; and
6. These funds may be applied to one time exceptional expenses approved by resolution of Council.

As a result, the "Alternative Revenue Source (ARS) Reserve Fund" was created to segregate the OLG funds from the Town’s other general revenues and provide for transparency surrounding the disposition of the funds. Further to these guidelines, Council at the January 22, 2003 Committee of the Whole meeting approved Recommendation #CW-007.03 which established the following distribution for the OLG funds: 55% Roads; 35% Parks & Recreation; 5% Community Reinvestment Fund; and 5% Fire Services.

Subsequent to this decision, Council at the March 19, 2003 Council Meeting approved Resolution #CR-095.03 which allowed for 5% of the OLG funds to be set aside for Council’s Discretionary Purposes.

As part of the 2004 Capital Budget process, Council at its February 25, 2004 Committee of the Whole meeting approved Recommendation #CW-036.04 from a report prepared by the CAO. This report recommended the suspension of the percentage allocations policy related to the OLG funds and Council adopted a new tool for the purpose of allocating these funds.

Current Policy

As a result of all of the foregoing decisions, the OLG receipts are currently being allocated annually in the following manner:

1. $2,000,000 committed to the Capital Costs of the new Multi Use Recreation Facility;
2. $100,000 committed to the Community Reinvestment Fund;
3. $100,000 committed for Council’s Discretionary purposes; and
4. The balance committed to the annual Capital Budget for distribution on a priority basis.

How Much Money has the Town Received?

Since 2002, up to and including the quarter ended December 31, 2009, the Town has received a total of $36,622,527 from the OLG. To find out how these funds are being distributed through the ARS Reserve Fund for 2006, please visit here. For more information on the Community Reinvestment Fund, please visit the link below.

Community Reinvestment Fund

For further information about the OLG funds, please contact the Director of Finance and Customer Service/CFO at 436-3710.