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Commission told of HISA assessment increase and staff changes; contracting hire accepted, senior auditor to retire
Summary
Staff reported HISA’s 2026 budget submission to the FTC will increase Minnesota’s assessment about 25 percent and announced a contracting-hire acceptance and an auditor’s planned December retirement.
At the commission’s September meeting staff reported that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) entity submitted its 2026 budget to the Federal Trade Commission for review and that changes to HISA funding rules will raise Minnesota’s assessment next year by roughly 25 percent, staff said.
Staff summarized current-year credits and noted Minnesota previously received offsets for private testing and personnel. “The assessment before we were given credits...was about $960,000. It's set to be about 1.2 for next year. I anticipate we'll receive roughly $275,000 in credits like we did this year that still represents very significant increase,” a staff presenter said.
Personnel updates included an offer accepted by Gabby Betzler for a contracting position who will also assist with investigative services and licensing work throughout the year. Staff also announced that senior auditor Kevin (surname not specified in transcript) plans to retire in December; staff said they will begin recruitment and seek overlap for training.
No commission action was taken on HISA assessments at the meeting; staff said they will report back once the jurisdiction’s formal assessment is received.
Ending — staff asked commissioners to note the longer-term budget impact and signaled forthcoming recruitment for the auditor role and follow-up on HISA assessment specifics.
