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<br />Advertisement <br />Coon Rapids might tap gambling <br />profits to pay its bills <br /> <br />The north metro city hopes that <br />taking a portion of charitable <br />gambling revenue will help pay for <br />this year's July 4th celebration and for <br />future community events. <br /> <br />By MARIA ELENA BACA, Star Tribune <br /> <br />Last update: July 22, 2009 - 11:16 PM <br /> <br />Still scrambling to raise money for this year's July <br />4th celebration, Coon Rapids is working on a plan <br />to support future community events with <br />proceeds from charitable gambling. <br /> <br />The City Council voted Tuesday to introduce an <br />ordinance -- effective Sept. 1 -- requiring <br />organizations that conduct charitable gambling to <br />contribute 5 percent of net profits to a city-run <br />fund. The organizations now are required to <br />spend 10 percent of net profits in the city; the <br />allocation will be deducted from that sum. <br /> <br />Cities have the right, by state law, to require <br />contributions of up to 10 percent of net profits <br />from charitable gambling operations, said Tom <br />Barrett, executive director of the state Gambling <br />Control Board. Many take the maximum amount, <br />using it for playground and emergency <br />equipment, summer youth programs and other <br />projects. <br />In past years, the Coon Rapids Lions have <br />bankrolled the city's fireworks display at a cost of <br />about $25,000, but the organization first cut <br />back, then withdrew this year because of <br />dramatic decreases in gambling revenue and <br />concerns about the club's ability to provide <br />donations for basic needs in the community. <br />The city has raised about $11,000 in private <br />contributions, including a $10,000 Cub Foods <br />grant, toward the $20,000 due next month for <br />this year's scaled-back display. <br />The Minnesota Gambling Control Board regulates <br />1,363 organizations statewide that raise money <br />mostly through pull tabs, but also with raffles, <br />bingo games, paddlewheels and tip boards. <br />Statewide, charitable gambling receipts were <br />down from 2007 to 2008. Organizations cite the <br />statewide ban on smoking and general economic <br />malaise. <br />Coon Rapids has granted charitable gambling <br />licenses to six organizations, including the <br />American Legion Post 334, the Coon Rapids Lions, <br />the Mat Bandits Wrestling Club, the National Little <br />League and the Coon Rapids Youth Hockey <br />Association. <br />Other cities, including Andover, Blaine, Crystal, <br />Ramsey and others, already have such funds, <br />collecting tens of thousands of dollars for