Lottery Sales Up, More Cash For Schools

August 6, 2012

Lawmakers will have an additional $48 million to spend on education construction and other enhancements under a revised Lottery scenario reached by state economists.

Tough economic times may be translating into higher revenues for the Department of Lottery, which would see total sales climb by $262 million more for the current fiscal year that began July 1 than economists estimated earlier this year.

The boost in Lottery revenues translates into more money available to the Education Enhancement Trust Fund, which was created to augment traditional general revenue education funding.

Going forward, however, Lottery proceeds will continue to exceed previous projects through 2015/16 but at a more moderate clip.

Sales of scratch-off games were up 5.3 percent from previous projections while Lotto sales will be flat. PowerBall sales growth, though strong at 12 percent, will grow at nearly half the rate as previously expected.

Comments

8 Responses to “Lottery Sales Up, More Cash For Schools”

  1. David Huie Green on August 7th, 2012 9:48 pm

    REGARDING:
    “I have often wondered why we have to “Cram the Van” (which is a good thing) when there is so much lottery money available.”

    Lottery money under the state constitutional amendment which permits it can only be spent on certain things, like capital improvements. School supplies is/are not one of those things. An interesting result is that sometimes you can replace a school with lottery money but you can’t repair it with lottery money.

    David for better finances than false hope

  2. Insomuch on August 7th, 2012 4:59 pm

    The lottery is mostly used by people that really don’t have the money to begin with.
    I think it is a sly way to get money out of people, but it’s their choice in how they want to live their lives and spend their money.
    I thought casting lots is a sin too just like soooo many other things that are condemned in society today.

  3. insomuch on August 7th, 2012 4:53 pm

    I remember when we were asked to vote for the lottery as a “good” thing for education. Classic bait and switch…When we voted for it and got it, the money education was already getting was subtracted from the amount given to education from the lottery. Example- a child gets an allowance of $10.00, and another relative decides to give him $15.00. The person making the initial allowance says, “Since you are making $15.00 now, there is no need for me to pay you.” I know this is a silly proposition, but it works to show what the state did to the education budget.

  4. Dishearted on August 7th, 2012 9:03 am

    From what I have found out,is the State takes away the same amount out of the school budget that the LOTTERY gives.And the Capital wants more $$$$$$. we the people can never win….

  5. 429SCJ on August 6th, 2012 11:19 pm

    Those lotto fiends fuel the machine.

    I think I will just put my money to the back of the van, as opposed to crooked pockets.

  6. Northend Drop-out on August 6th, 2012 5:46 pm

    The money generated by the lottery does not go to the school, as you would think. The Legislature divides this money over all the day care centers for what they call Pre-K…..no certified teacher working with the students….Computers and other special items ….colleges….etc… This money does not get to into the general fund of the School Districts, to be used for supplies, salaries or whatever is needed by the District. That is why we have to “Cram the Van” and do without items such as special teachers or teachers in general……talk to the Legislature because it was sold one way and then used another……

  7. james taylor on August 6th, 2012 7:36 am

    simple the lawmakers get their hands on the money first, before the schools

  8. Taxpayer on August 6th, 2012 12:24 am

    I have often wondered why we have to “Cram the Van” (which is a good thing) when there is so much lottery money available.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News