Oklahoma lottery funding falls short

OKLAHOMA – As reported by the Edmund Sun: "Several Oklahoma superintendents aren't complaining about lottery revenue trickling into school districts, but the money isn't flowing as anticipated.

"We felt like it would be money coming to us without expenditures attached to it," said Steven Crawford, superintendent of Byng Public Schools near Ada.

"He said the money was put into the general budget instead of being used for outside expenses.

"…Oklahoma launched its lottery in October 2005, after telling voters the state would give 30 percent of ticket sales revenue to education. Of that 30 percent, 45 percent goes to common education; and another 45 percent goes to capital projects for all levels of education and also scholarships and loans at Oklahoma colleges and universities. The additional money is divided equally between the Teacher's Retirement System and the School Consolidation and Assistance Fund.

"Money is filtering in for education, but less than previously estimated.

"The Lottery Commission had estimated about $123 million would go to education this fiscal year — July 1 to June 30. The commission readjusted those numbers in December to $83.6 million…"