Lottery next: As new year dawns, it will be time to look at plans, progress

With some time having passed since the passage and introduction of the new North Carolina Education Lottery, it is time to talk about something other than Speaker of the House Jim Black and his connection to the lobbyists involved with its introduction.

This state’s citizens need to get a progress report — the who, what, where and how much as it relates to the state’s schools and lottery funds.

There has been money released — not as much as promised, but still a respectable contribution to the state’s schools.

So, now the question is, what’s next?

It is time to do some more talking about what the money will be used for, who will get it and when we can start seeing the benefits locally.

There are plenty of schools in the state in general — and in Wayne County in particular — that could use a few extra dollars to improve facilities and programs now.

The lottery has been very successful and has generated a lot of interest and excitement around the state. All that is left to do now, aside from setting aside the controversy that surrounds its founding, is to make sure that North Carolina has a plan in place to make sure the money is used effectively and for what the taxpayers have been promised.

A “state of the lottery” address might not be a bad idea, especially in light of the recent additions to its offerings. That would allow taxpayers and officials to remind themselves of where we have been and where we are headed well before we get there.

Published in Editorials on December 15, 2006 11:25 AM