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The real issue Declining funds for education
Our Stance Solution is to unify districts
Oklahoma’s lottery is not producing nearly the amount of revenue for education which was projected by proponents five years ago when voters approved it.
The state’s lottery board of directors have adopted a $180.9 million budget for the new fiscal year which begins July 1.
The board is estimating the lottery will generate $66.7 million in revenue for public education, a far cry from the $300 million some proponents were espousing back in 2004 as they tried to convince Oklahomans this would be the lifeline for education in the future.
The $66.7 million is $2.5 million less than the current year’s contribution to education.
We supported State Questions 705 and 706 in the 2004 election which enacted the lottery and set it in motion. SQ 705 was the Oklahoma Education Lottery Act and SQ 706 established the Oklahoma Lottery Education Trust Fund.
State lottery officials point to several factors for the estimated decline. Among them are the tough economy, Arkansas enacting a new lottery which is about to get under way and the 100 tribal casinos in Oklahoma.
When we supported the lottery questions five years ago, we stated our reasons for doing so. One was we hadn’t seen any other measures offered which might enhance or improve education funding at the time.
The other was polls were showing Oklahomans were clamoring for ways to gamble their money away without having to cross state lines or going to tribal casinos to do it.
Now both a new, competing lottery in Arkansas and the increase in tribal casino activity are cited as reasons state lottery collections are declining.
Another is that Oklahoma’s lottery has guidelines requiring that 35 percent of the receipts be sent to education.
The primary reason Oklahomans were asked to approve the lottery was for education, at least that was how it was touted by the governor and other proponents.
The education lottery was a centerpiece of the governor’s campaign when he was first elected in 2002, and most likely it passed because voters believed its aim was to enhance and improve education funding.
Had its purpose been anything different, it’s doubtful we would have supported it because casino gambling seemed to be then and still is thriving.
The reason given that Oklahomans would no longer have to cross state borders to play the lottery apparently may have been a little weak.
If people feel they can afford to travel across state lines to gamble, even in tough economic times, apparently not much will stop them.
Without knowing what the answer is on increasing lottery revenue, there is a solution to stretching those dollars further.
And that is unification of school districts across Oklahoma where it is feasible to do so. This won’t be popular, nor will it sit well with the education lobby.
They will oppose it, because it’s a major change and it will reduce the number of districts and even some personnel, especially administrators and administrative staff.
But it’s necessary.
The education lobby was among the chief proponents for the lottery.
They also figured liquor by the drink and pari-mutuel horse racing were the answers to stabilize funding.
Until lawmakers make some tough decisions in areas and unify districts where it’s feasible to do so, Oklahoma will continue to struggle to have sufficient funding for education.
The real issue Declining funds for education
Our Stance Solution is to unify districts
Oklahoma’s lottery is not producing nearly the amount of revenue for education which was projected by proponents five years ago when voters approved it.
The state’s lottery board of directors have adopted a $180.9 million budget for the new fiscal year which begins July 1.
The board is estimating the lottery will generate $66.7 million in revenue for public education, a far cry from the $300 million some proponents were espousing back in 2004 as they tried to convince Oklahomans this would be the lifeline for education in the future.
The $66.7 million is $2.5 million less than the current year’s contribution to education.
We supported State Questions 705 and 706 in the 2004 election which enacted the lottery and set it in motion. SQ 705 was the Oklahoma Education Lottery Act and SQ 706 established the Oklahoma Lottery Education Trust Fund.
State lottery officials point to several factors for the estimated decline. Among them are the tough economy, Arkansas enacting a new lottery which is about to get under way and the 100 tribal casinos in Oklahoma.
When we supported the lottery questions five years ago, we stated our reasons for doing so. One was we hadn’t seen any other measures offered which might enhance or improve education funding at the time.
The other was polls were showing Oklahomans were clamoring for ways to gamble their money away without having to cross state lines or going to tribal casinos to do it.
Now both a new, competing lottery in Arkansas and the increase in tribal casino activity are cited as reasons state lottery collections are declining.
Another is that Oklahoma’s lottery has guidelines requiring that 35 percent of the receipts be sent to education.
The primary reason Oklahomans were asked to approve the lottery was for education, at least that was how it was touted by the governor and other proponents.
The education lottery was a centerpiece of the governor’s campaign when he was first elected in 2002, and most likely it passed because voters believed its aim was to enhance and improve education funding.
Had its purpose been anything different, it’s doubtful we would have supported it because casino gambling seemed to be then and still is thriving.
The reason given that Oklahomans would no longer have to cross state borders to play the lottery apparently may have been a little weak.
If people feel they can afford to travel across state lines to gamble, even in tough economic times, apparently not much will stop them.
Without knowing what the answer is on increasing lottery revenue, there is a solution to stretching those dollars further.
And that is unification of school districts across Oklahoma where it is feasible to do so. This won’t be popular, nor will it sit well with the education lobby.
They will oppose it, because it’s a major change and it will reduce the number of districts and even some personnel, especially administrators and administrative staff.
But it’s necessary.
The education lobby was among the chief proponents for the lottery.
They also figured liquor by the drink and pari-mutuel horse racing were the answers to stabilize funding.
Until lawmakers make some tough decisions in areas and unify districts where it’s feasible to do so, Oklahoma will continue to struggle to have sufficient funding for education.
