02-17-2010, 06:24 AM
Carrie,
Where gaming revenue for the state/county goes is up to the state/county to decide. It does not have to go for education. They often say it will go for education because that makes people more likely to agree to gaming.
Also the funding wasn't just education. Education was highlighted and talked about the most, but that could be a small percentage of the actual gaming revenue. The bulk could be used in the general fund or for EOPRF (Elected Officials Party and Retirement Fund). So the people have to be diligent in understanding where the revenue is going and not be so easily fooled by a good PR campaign.
Carey,
Yes indeed, that is a very real reality. People want gaming revenue to go for good causes (education, cultural, health, etc) but that did not mean the money was "In Addition To" and most often was "In Lieu Of".
Some states did create special funds that gaming revenue was deposited into and doled out according to grant style funding. To make it additional money, they required the state to set a bench line funding based on historical spending. So the state was forced to continue funding the good causes at levels that would exist had gaming revenue not been available, and the gaming revenue was additional funding.
Unfortunately even that went wrong as money wasn't always spent for needed purposes but extravagant purposes. Instead of funding a drama class for a year, it went to install marble over the cement floors in the hall. Instead of funding repairs to a cultural building, it went for travel expenses to visit other cultural places for the governing boards.
Where gaming revenue for the state/county goes is up to the state/county to decide. It does not have to go for education. They often say it will go for education because that makes people more likely to agree to gaming.
Also the funding wasn't just education. Education was highlighted and talked about the most, but that could be a small percentage of the actual gaming revenue. The bulk could be used in the general fund or for EOPRF (Elected Officials Party and Retirement Fund). So the people have to be diligent in understanding where the revenue is going and not be so easily fooled by a good PR campaign.
Carey,
Yes indeed, that is a very real reality. People want gaming revenue to go for good causes (education, cultural, health, etc) but that did not mean the money was "In Addition To" and most often was "In Lieu Of".
Some states did create special funds that gaming revenue was deposited into and doled out according to grant style funding. To make it additional money, they required the state to set a bench line funding based on historical spending. So the state was forced to continue funding the good causes at levels that would exist had gaming revenue not been available, and the gaming revenue was additional funding.
Unfortunately even that went wrong as money wasn't always spent for needed purposes but extravagant purposes. Instead of funding a drama class for a year, it went to install marble over the cement floors in the hall. Instead of funding repairs to a cultural building, it went for travel expenses to visit other cultural places for the governing boards.