Lottery Dollars for Education

Do schools benefit from increased lottery sales?

An Associated Press report that aired on our station Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning may have left an incorrect impression.  The story suggested that Illinois public schools will get a "winfdall" from the recent Mega Millions jackpot.  Lottery sales generated more than 31-million dollars for the Common School Fund.  A spokesman for the Illinois Board of Education tells WNIJ that money will be set aside for schools in the upcoming fiscal year.  But, he says, the overall spending level for schools will be determined by Illinois lawmakers in a new budget.  The Lottery sales dollars will be included in the budgeted amount, not added to the overall school funding as a "windfall."