Philip D. Brown

Richmond County Daily Journal

Despite having over 185,000 jobs disappear between the December of 2007 and 2008, the North Carolina Education Lottery hasn’t seen the drop in transfers to schools that one might expect from sales during the 12 month period.

Earlier this week the lottery transferred over $93.5 million to the State Education Lottery Fund from sales during October, November and December of 2008, up from the over $75 million they transferred from sales during the same time period in 2007.

“We think that one of the big reasons we’re able to do more is that in late 2007 the legislature gave us more leeway in pay-outs,” NCEL Corporate Communications Director Pam Walker said. “In January of 2008 we began to offer scratch-off tickets with bigger prizes, which increased sales.

“That has pretty much carried on through the year, and due to the increased sales, we were able to increase our transfers.”

Richmond County Schools Superintendent Dr. George Norris said that in the period from July 2007 to June 2008, the school system received over $919,000 from the education lottery fund, and since July 2008 it has received over $503,000.

The system also collects interest from these funds, Norris said.

In total, RCS has drawn down $2.3 million from the lottery since it began. A total of $4.8 million had been set aside for Richmond County. Norris said the schools will seek $500,000 of the money for school construction.

Tuesday’s transfer brings the total amount of money that has been raised for education statewide to over $918.7 million since the inception of the lottery in March 2006.

“We are thrilled that we are able to make another substantial transfer to the State Education Lottery Fund,” NCEL Executive Director Tom Shaheen. “Our daily mission at the lottery is to maximize sales and raise as much money for education as we possibly can. We appreciate the support of players and lottery retailers throughout North Carolina who help us with that mission.”

From 2006 until Tuesday, there have been more than $2.7 billion in gross lottery sales.