Shattering the 'lottery-for-schools' myth

You've heard of urban myths.

Well, here is a state myth: The lottery pays for education.

It doesn't, entirely. It never has.

As detailed in a Saturday story by Daily Herald Senior State Government Editor John Patterson, there are many loopholes in the lottery-tickets-for-schools funding scheme.

When the lottery began, in 1974, ticket sale money wasn't specifically set aside for education. It wasn't until 1985 that lottery profits had to go to the state's schools fund, by way of a new law.

But even then, there was no requirement that lottery revenue be on top of what was already there. Rather, it works this way - as lottery money comes in, it frees up state tax dollars to be used elsewhere. It is still up to the General Assembly and the governor to decide how much money will be set aside for education. Politics can drive that outcome.

And keep in mind that, even with all the money from lottery sales that is going to the schools, it is still false advertising to make any claim that the lottery "pays" for education. The millions made off the lottery are still a mere fraction of the overall state public education funding mix. The lottery's contribution to the state schools is about 3 percent of the overall education budget.

If you were fooled into believing otherwise, it could have been the politicians playing loose with the truth in their campaigns regarding lottery funding.

Or the promotional material and TV commercials thanking you for giving a big boost to education by buying a lottery ticket.

To their credit, lottery officials have massaged that message. A pamphlet emphasizes that lottery revenue was never meant to be and never will be the primary means of paying for schools.

There are some things that are true - and troubling - about education funding.

There are disparities in per pupil spending that give school districts with a rich property tax base distinct advantages over those that don't.

And suburban state legislators are right to be wary of the poor vs. rich school district funding debate that could lead to equalization measures that strip suburban school systems of local control.

Correcting this disparity will take hard, sensitive, intelligent work. What is also true is that there is no more fooling people into believing that the lottery is the schools' funding salvation.

In any event, using gambling revenue for education, or to fund any other state program, is financially risky. It can also create a host of new social problems associated with addiction to gambling.

And, like gambling itself, it raises a false hope of instant riches - such as the debunked claim that the lottery would be this great solution to the state public schools' funding problems.