Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Va. petition bid wants schools to get lottery funds Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 15:07:21 EST Message-ID: Lines: 59 \SE B;METROPOLITAN \SS (WS) \HD Va. petition bid wants schools to get lottery funds \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT CHESAPEAKE, Va. CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) - Residents have begun a petition drive asking the General Assembly to earmark proceeds from the state lottery for schools and other programs rather than place the money in the state's general fund. Since 1990, the legislature has used lottery revenues to cover the state's budget shortfalls, caused by lower-than-expected tax revenues. But fiscal year 1991-92 ended with a $52.8 million surplus. Petition supporters say they were promised the lottery revenues would go for education, the elderly and local economic development when they were asked to approve the lottery five years ago. "When we voted on it, everyone was under the assumption it would go for a worthy cause," Jan Bodie said. "We didn't vote for it to go directly into the treasury." Ms. Bodie has formed the Concerned Citizens for Reform of the Virginia Lottery Act 531. The group is distributing petitions asking that lottery revenue not be placed in the general fund or state treasury. Instead, it would be "kept in the established State Lottery Fund with the Lottery Board of Directors responsible for disbursement of all lottery proceeds. The group wants 65 percent of lottery proceeds to go to schools, 15 percent to the general fund and 20 percent to programs for the elderly, cities, economic development and the environment. State Secretary of Finance Paul W. Timmreck called the proposal "bizarre." "I think this results in less accountability since the lottery board members are appointed officials, independent by definition, and are far less accountable to the public than elected officials," Mr. Timmreck said. But state Sen. Mark Earley, Chesapeake Republican, said there is a strong feeling among his constituents that the lottery money is not going where promised. "At every forum I've spoken at, one of the first questions is, 'What's happening to the lottery money?' " he said. Mr. Earley said he will co-sponsor a bill to return the lottery revenues to localities for education and transportation. For fiscal year 1991-92, the Lottery Department returned $290 million to the general fund. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM