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Iowa Cities Spend Gambling Money Differently

"…For Burlington, that amounts to $108,000 a year, and in Fort Madison, it totals $60,000 each year.

"In Keokuk, Bode said about one–third of its gaming revenues, which are deposited in the city's general fund, are spent on public safety projects or equipment, often for the police or fire departments.

"For example, the city last year bought a new pumper fire truck for about $240,000 in gaming revenue funds it had saved for several years.

"In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2001, the city received $307,323 in Catfish Bend revenues, the latest numbers available.

"Bode detailed how that money was spent, much of it on for government–related operations.

"..Other funds were spent on community–centered activities and organizations.

"In Fort Madison, all gaming revenues have gone toward paying off $2.1 million in bonds sold to finance improvements to the riverfront, according to SIRRC president Larry Smith of Fort Madison.

"…Smith said the improvements included the road that leads to the boat, the pedestrian crosswalk over the railroad tracks that leads to the boat, the parking lots and landscaping for the boat's docking area, and the pavilion building which Catfish Bend uses for its corporate offices.

"…Unlike Keokuk and Fort Madison, attempting to nail down the specifics of how gaming revenues are spent in Burlington and Des Moines County is more difficult.

"The difference in accountability seems to be that in the other two communities, it's the cities either directly or indirectly that have been receiving and spending the money, so records of receipts and expenditures are open to public scrutiny.

"…The private nonprofit that receives SIRRC funds in Burlington is Grow Greater Burlington, which is also the economic development arm of the Burling–ton/West Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce.

"…Grow Greater Burlington has given the city of Burlington $62,500 a year for the past several years earmarked for `riverfront improvements.'

"`I guess the thing you could say about here in Burlington is that the money all goes for economic development,' said Dennis Hinkle, vice president of economic development for the chamber.

"The center of the chamber's economic development focus, and thus expenditures of gaming funds, is Flint Ridge Business Park, between Roosevelt and Gear avenues.

"…Since 1999, Catfish Bend has set up its own charitable contribution fund, donating $100,000 yearly to nonprofit organizations such as schools, the Boy Scouts and historic preservation groups."

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