California schools hit by lottery money slump

NORTH COUNTY, California – As reported by the North County Times: "The state's education budget could lose more than $100 million dollars because of slumping California State Lottery sales, according to state officials.

"The California State Lottery recently released projections that show a $400 million decrease in its sales this year. The figures mean sales could top $3.2 billion, with public education projected to receive $1.13 billion of that total. That's about $136 million less than last year.

"Lottery officials attribute the sales downturn to an unusually low number of large jackpots in the first half of the fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30.

"…A budget analyst for the state Department of Education said lottery revenues represent only a small part of the state's overall education budget…"