LOTTERY TURNS OVER MONEY; EDUCATION GETS $147.1 MILLION THIS FISCAL YEAR

Increased interest in lottery games translated to nearly a 10 percent increase this fiscal year in lottery proceeds to public education in Missouri.

The Missouri Lottery Commission announced Wednesday it has exceeded the previous year's proceeds to public education for the sixth consecutive year. The departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education have received $147,134,560 in lottery proceeds this fiscal year compared to $134.2 million last fiscal year.

Of every dollar spent on Missouri lottery tickets, education gets 30 cents, 55 cents pay prizes, nine cents administrative costs, and six cents retailers' commissions, incentives and bonuses.

Each year the commission gives the General Assembly an estimate of what it expects to have in proceeds for education. Lawmakers then allocate that money for educational programs in public schools.

The allocations comprise about 3 percent of the combined budgets for public education.

Last year $62.1 million was set aside for elementary and secondary programs including incentive grants, testing and vocational programs, Caring Communities, and the Safe Schools Act. Another $84 million was allocated to higher education programs at Truman and Southwest Missouri state universities, various community colleges, and the University of Missouri system, among others.

Susan Goedde of the Missouri Lottery said the record-high $195 million Powerball jackpot reached in May played a large part in the increased funding for education. Some $10 million was earmarked for education from that single jackpot alone.

Increased Scratchers sales and a move from $1 tickets to tickets costing up to $3 also have aided educational programs, as have strong participation in promotions during traditionally slow summer sales periods, she said.

Said Goedde: "We're obviously pleased with the growth we've experienced and the increased funding we're able to provide to educational programs. We had a great year, and hopefully we'll continue to have great years."

Of the nearly $1.2 billion the state has received since the lottery began in January 1986, more than $649 million has been transferred to educational programs.

Prior to July 1993, all proceeds from the lottery went into Missouri's general revenue fund, and the Legislature decided how the money would be spent. Approval of Amendment 11 by voters in August 1992 changed that practice so that all lottery proceeds go to education.

"About 78 percent of voters approved that and overwhelmingly wanted all the money to go to education," said Goedde. "We're working hard to develop new games and promotions so that we can continue to increase the level of funding designated for education."