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deal for both schools, players
Don’t look for the North Carolina Education Lottery to build new schools in Columbus County any time soon.
Proceeds from the lottery have disappointed administrators from both schools systems. Additionally, a bill in the Senate, if it passes, would base lottery disbursements on county schoolchildren populations, which would further erode Columbus County’s share.
Some of the lottery money is being used for worthwhile programs such as reducing class size and funding the More at Four pre-school program. Columbus County and Whiteville City schools administrators say that the money collected here will be used mostly for repairs (a majority of the school buildings in the county are more than 50 years old) rather than new construction.
Judging by figures from the lottery’s first year, it appears that Columbus County residents’ money will be used to build schools in other places before schools are built here.
Columbus County residents won $2.3 million, but they spent $5.7 million. This figure doesn’t include money spent in South Carolina, where many people perceive the chances of winning are greater.
The county lost $3.4 million last year that could have been used for education purposes right here in Columbus County.
It hurts even more to see that of the $5.7 million spent on the education lottery, the county and city systems have gotten only $496,000 of reimbursements, less than a 9 percent return on investment for the schools. At this rate, the county could see a new school built in about, say...35 years.
It doesn’t take much of an education to see that the education lottery is a raw deal not only for those who play, but for the schools as well.