Arizona Game and Fish Commission Heritage Fund

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission (Commission) Heritage Fund was created by a 1990 voters' initiative for the purpose of preserving, protecting, and enhancing Arizona's natural environment. The Heritage Fund receives up to $10 million in lottery revenues annually and is administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (Department). Statute establishes five Heritage Fund program areas and the specific allocation of monies to those areas. The Department has established and generally follows policies and procedures to ensure Heritage Fund monies are spent in accordance with statutory purposes. The Department should strengthen its policies and procedures to ensure these monies are used appropriately for administrative costs and for costs related to contracts and escrow accounts. The Commission also appropriately spends Heritage Funds monies to purchase land to conserve wildlife habitat, and the Department should improve its management of these Heritage Fund properties.