Preparation
While we are preparing our kids with back to school materials, at ABA, we are busy preparing for our biggest event of the year, our 27th Annual Awards Banquet. Our banquet committee has worked hard identifying all the nominees. After intense meetings, I am pleased with the outcome, and very excited for this year’s honorees. The theme The Strength of Teamwork was the component that made all of our honorees special. In teamwork, influence came from within the company and/or outside the company – friends & colleagues. Either way, a level of trust and communication skills was truly tested. People on team must complement one another. Please join me and ABA’s Board of Directors at the 27th Annual Awards Banquet at 6:30 pm on Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown to salute and honor these business leaders.
California State Budget Crisis
Many businesses have more questions than answer about the absence of the California State budget that would have begun on July 1, 2003. While Sacramento resolves this issue/crisis, what does it mean to government agencies? More importantly, what does it mean for you, the local business owners?
Joe Hernandez, Manager of Diversity & Economic Opportunity for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority commented, “The state budget has no immediate impact for MTA. We already received commitments from the state on two major projects: San Fernando Valley Bus Rapid Transit and the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension Project.” Hernandez continued, “There is no immediate impact to businesses that currently has relations with us and for those who want to start a new relationship with us. However, for the long run, it is unknown. Our hope is to have the same working budget as last year.”
Representatives at Los Angeles World Airport are not affected by the outcome of the budget, because they are self-funded. They continue to evaluate projects and spending.
Terri Fontenette, Business and Community Relations Director for California State Lottery commented, “The Lottery Act passed by the voters created the California Lottery as an agency which is entirely self-funded through the sale of Lottery products. As such, the California Lottery does not receive or depend on any outside funding including the State budget.”
The Lottery Act further spells out how the money generated by the sales of Lottery products is to be spent and essentially requires, after payment of prizes and administrative expenses, that all remaining funds be transferred to public education on a quarterly basis throughout the year.
Fontenette adds, “While as a State agency, the Lottery is subject to spending controls and staffing limitations, we have always been as fiscally conservative as possible, even prior to the current California fiscal crisis, and will continue to do so. We will continue to operate in the same manner during the State’s fiscal crisis and plan to continue providing quality customer service to all our players and our retailers. At this time, we do not anticipate any changes and/or disruptions of payments, etc., for those who do business with the Lottery. We do, however, continuously review all facets of our procurement/contract program for any possible savings we may be able to achieve in order to generate even more dollars for public education.”
The Lottery continues to encourage businesses, especially California’s small and DVBE businesses, to participate in their procurement/contract program. As in the past, the Lottery will continue to post contract opportunities on their website, www.calottery.com, under vendor information.
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