Graham wants new lottery formula

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on December 14, 2007 - 5:01pm.
Tags: | | | |

Bill Graham wants to change the lottery formula.

Currently, part of the proceeds from the N.C. Education Lottery go to counties based in part on their tax rate.

A spokesman for Graham said he wants to redistribute the money on a per-pupil basis.

"Tax rate really doesn't tell you a lot about the county," said spokesman Aaron Lay. "Some of the poorer counties in the West have a lower tax rate. You can't base a county's need on their tax rates."

He said Graham also wants to put the money into a special fund that would act like a "lockbox" to prevent lottery revenue from being raided for the general fund.

"It may not happen now, but it's something we want to prevent from happening," he said.

You must be logged in to post a comment on this blog. If you already have an N&O online user account, click here to log in. Otherwise, click here to register (it's free!).

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Re: Graham wants new lottery formula

Submitted by raleigh613 on December 15, 2007 - 2:08pm.

Is it stealing the idea, or simply agreeing that the Senator is right? This very logic is what causes our government to be inefficient and unable to make real changes. It is not about who said something first, as long as we agree that a change should be made. With this attitude, nothing will change. We must work together to transform this state.

» login to post comments

Re: Graham wants new lottery formula

Submitted by hangingdognc on December 14, 2007 - 5:49pm.

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery then Senator John Snow of Murphy ought to be truly floored that one of the Gubernatorial candidates is copying his idea.

Currently, the lottery formula allocates money based on two pots of money. The first pot is given equally to everyone based on a per pupil basis. The second pot is given out based on the county’s tax rate. 49 counties don’t qualify for the 2nd pot of money.

Over the past two sessions of the legislature Senator Snow has introduced a plan that would allocate lottery revenues based on a per pupil basis or on a per pupil basis, the Low Wealth Formula, and the Growth Rate of Schools. If you want more details about the plan that Snow introduced in the Senate you can find out more about it at Snow's website: http://www.senatorsnow.com/lottery_page.htm

Not only is Graham copying Sen. Snow’s idea but he is also a day or two late to this debate. The education committee met yesterday to talk about various education formulas. Maybe Graham can take all the good ideas from that meeting and say they are his too.

» login to post comments

Something we want to prevent from happening

Submitted by Anglico on December 14, 2007 - 5:38pm.

is this: allowing Bill Graham to have anything to say about how government in North Carolina operates.

This guy hates everything about government. Why on earth does he even want to be governor in the first place? Is he the great white savior who will rush in and save us all from ourselves? Sort of like the Realtor Ticks who feel obliged to save Realtors homeowners from their misery?

» login to post comments