Where the money goes

By: Letters To the editor | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: July 02, 2009

In response to the June 26 letter "Use the lottery:"

Lottery sales to date are more than $ 3.4 billion. On June 23, we made a transfer to the Office of State Budget that brought us to our fiscal year goal of $385.5 million. More will be transferred this week. Since startup, we have transferred more than $1.1 billion to North Carolina.

The Lottery Act designates that 50 percent of proceeds be split between at-risk 4-year-old pre-K and K-3 class-size reduction; 40 percent to school construction; and 10 percent to college scholarships. The only lottery proceeds designated to cover teacher salaries are the dollars going to class-size reduction. Only Gov. Bev Perdue or the legislature can alter this designation.

For detailed information on allocations to counties by program and by fiscal year, readers can go to the lottery Web page at www.nc-educationlottery.org/about_where-the-money-goes.aspx.

The lottery has accomplished what the legislature envisioned when it was created. The money is going where directed by law. The lottery was never designed to meet all the budget needs of education. Education funding needs are significant, with the annual K-12 budget over $8 billion. At the lottery, we are extremely pleased that we have added $1 billion that was not previously available.

PAMELA WALKER

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR,

N.C. EDUCATION LOTTERY

Raleigh

A council member who cares

When it comes to Winston-Salem City Council members, there's no one as concerned about our neighborhood as Dan Besse. In May of 2008 when Little Creek flooded behind our home, Besse was out the next day checking on the residence. When our energy could not be restored because of miscommunication between the energy company and the inspections department, Besse was on top of the situation. The energy folks and the inspectors had our energy restored the same day we contacted Besse.

There's one thing for sure when it comes to honesty and transparency: Dan Besse is the best. He's always working to help the citizens of the Southwest Ward regardless of political affiliation. Re-elect Winston-Salem City Council Member Dan Besse!

WADE BOYLES

Winston-Salem

Keys to the city

I'm writing in regard to the June 25 letter "It won't sell." I agree with the writer, Shirley S. Moser. Why don't Mayor Allen Joines and the Winston-Salem City Council members just give Billy Prim the keys to the city? It seems they have done everything else for him and given him everything he has asked for.

I hope the voters remember all this when it comes time to vote.

DEAN DAVIS

Lewisville