“Why are we here?” It’s one of the big questions people ponder. Much of the time here in the Lucke-Zone, we’re talking about winners and exchanging information with you about games. So the chance to win is a big reason why we’re here. What’s just as important to us, and to all of North Carolina, is our mission to support education.
One of the four programs that benefits from lottery funds – along with teachers’ salaries, need-based college scholarships and prekindergarten programs – is school construction. Just recently the Moore County Board of Commissioners gave the green light to move forward on school construction projects to be paid for with N.C. Education Lottery funds.
The Pilot of Southern Pines reports that the projects include: “$1.2 million to expand the Union Pines High School cafeteria and $2.7 million to expand the Pinecrest auxiliary gym and cafeteria. Mike Griffin, the school system’s chief finance officer, said the Southern Pines auditorium upgrade includes such things as window replacements and new furnishings. Griffin said the school system would be able to carry out the two lottery projects without further use of bond money.”
By telephone, Griffin further elaborated on the crucial role lottery funds play. “Without these funds we would need to issue local bonds, and we would not be able to do these projects for another 5-7 years,” he explained. “And they’re needed now based on our student population and student growth.”
“If we put these on a bond issue, the debt service would be about $400,000 per year. That would be paid for out of property taxes,” Griffin added. “So basically we’re saving $400,000 per year in local property taxes.”
For more information about how lottery funds benefit education programs here in North Carolina, take a look at our beneficiary brochure. The figures you see are from start-up (3/30/06) through the end of fiscal year 2010 (6/30/10).
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