Use state lottery money for college scholarships

With recent budget cuts at our schools, the question comes up, what about the North Carolina Education Lottery. Where is that money going?

Having lived in California when its lottery passed, the same concerns were present. Just like here, lottery money ends up being a small part of the education budget. With that said, is that the best way to spend our lottery winnings?

Georgia’s winnings fund, the HOPE Scholarship, has become a successful model for other lotteries, including the South Carolina Education Lottery. Our lottery is not the envy of all.

I have only heard good things about the HOPE program, where good students get free college tuition at in-state schools. This program seems to offer more direct and tangible benefits to its residents.

The North Carolina Lottery passed in 2005. I don’t recall being asked, or if there was a debate, on how to spend the lottery revenue. I would have favored such a scholarship to our current program.

Can we change our program?

Bob Lowe
Greensboro