Letter to the editor:

State lottery would help fund schools

Vernon F. Pechous, Henderson

Wed, Jul 2, 2008 (2:02 a.m.)

I’m old enough to remember George Carlin uttering the “seven banned words.” I’m trying to get a seven-letter word that’s apparently verboten in print. That word is “lottery.”

In Florida a lottery was created in January 1988 by a constitutional amendment approved by a 2-1 margin in the general election of 1986. The point of the lottery is to give extra funding to state education, and it was mandated that a significant portion of all revenue go to the Education Enhancement Trust Fund. The Bright Future Scholarship program is funded by the lottery (read Millennium Scholarship?).

It took 17 days of sales for the lottery commission to repay with interest the $15.5 million bond from the state’s general fund that got it going.

I believe that if the teachers association were really concerned with the level of education, it would pick up the challenge that this presents. Florida’s fund could serve as an example, covering a multitude of things, such as school construction, books, new teachers to reduce class sizes, scholarships and student financial aid; nothing is said about raises for anyone, but the state would have extra money to address this.

The gaming industry should also be behind this, as it may loosen the talk of raising the gaming tax and of raising the room tax. I realize this would take some revenue from its bottom line, but it would be a good gesture to make. After all, I and lots of other people not only visit the casinos but also travel to Arizona or California to purchase lottery tickets.

Since 1988, the Florida Lottery has generated $17 billion in revenue for the Education Enhancement Trust Fund. A percentage of the gross revenue goes to prizes, as well expenses associated with running the lottery, but there’s a lot left over.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By mwh710

7/2/08 at 6:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

Unfortunately, what really happens with state lotteries and what is most likely to happen, knowing Nevada Politicians, as I do is: Nevada sets up a State Lottery where all proceeds, after administrative costs and prizes are spent, goes to Education. That all seems well and good, but then legislature looks at how much education is getting from the lottery and short-changes it , "because they have a second income source". It is said many different ways, but the bottom line is Education sees little to no increase, because the legislators always can find ways to spend money. Besides Nevada, the wealthiest state in the nation, doesn't want educated people - who will make beds and wash dishes in their casinos.
By poor_vegas

7/2/08 at 8:09 a.m.

Suggest removal

"Besides Nevada, the wealthiest state in the nation, doesn't want educated people - who will make beds and wash dishes in their casinos" and I could not agree more. Our children are the dumbest in the nation. A friend who got a teaching job here when we were offering bonus great pay blah blah is leaving Vegas this weekend to return to a teaching job back East. He said he was told take a pay cut or leave...the schooling in Vegas needs more than just the Lottery it needs a serious change in leadership! But hey we always have booze, drugs and more homeless than we can take care of...WOHOO VEGAS!!!
By jfnance32

7/2/08 at 9:14 a.m.

Suggest removal

I like this idea but the casinos will never allow it for it will cut into the gambling that they offer.

Note:

State lotteries from a gambler perspective have the worst odds ever. The reason is that the winners take of the pot is so small. MegaBucks, has terrible odds too, but it is 1000x better any state lottery. By law I believe slot machines must return at least 90% of the take back to the players.

State lotteries probably only give much less than 90%.
By LV_Tom

7/3/08 at 7:57 a.m.

Suggest removal

Lotteries are run by the government, putting them in the gaming business. Think about it. Your elected government is running a gaming operation. While the casinos pay a gaming tax, the state of Nevada is not operating the casinos. I don't believe any state should be in the gambling business.