New lottery does not mean windfall for Indiana schools

SOUTH BEND — Let the selling begin. The Hoosier and Michigan lotteries are selling tickets for both the Powerball and Mega Million games. In Indiana, that does not mean a mega payout for local schools. More than a dozen teachers from our area are already planning a trip to Indianapolis to discuss school funding. They will lobby House leaders Tuesday about proposed cuts to the education budget. The lottery change is happening in more than a dozen states that sell the two games. Tickets are side by side with the Powerball and other Hoosier lottery games at local stores. Dustin Milbourn at the 7-Eleven store in Mishawaka says there hasn't been a strong demand for Mega Millions tickets, just yet. "I've personally sold maybe one ticket, maybe two. Not too much so far," he said. The cross-selling of tickets began Sunday in Indiana, Michigan and 32 other states that sell tickets for one of the multistate lotteries. The two big games will bring multimillion dollar drawings four times per week to each state. Schools in Michigan get a share of lottery profits: more than 700 million according to Michigan Lottery. But in Indiana, Mega Millions will not mean a "mega" payout for school corporations. Officials from Indiana's State Budget Agency said, "Hoosier lottery profits go to the state's pension and also the state's general fund. Money never has and currently does not go to the state's schools." Governor Mitch Daniels and leaders from several school corporations have been vocal about funding cuts to public education. And teachers and members from the National Education Association will travel to Indianapolis to work with state legislators to increase cash flows at area schools. "It's something we feel strongly about," said Linda Lucy, vice president of the South Bend Chapter National Education Association. "It's not so much a risk but a need to go and help do whatever we can to help education be stronger." It's a gamble, but Lucy said it's worth the chance to help the state's children. "Cuts are not going to help us go where we need to go to help them," said Lucy.