Lottery proceeds were never designated for education.
Lots of people think that they were, but that’s not the case.
So our constituents were skeptical when my 41st District colleagues and I told them four years ago that a portion of slots proceeds would be used to implement the Park Heights Master plan and to further economic and community development in other neighborhoods within one mile of Pimlico Race Track.
That was before a sharp drop in the projected revenues going to these communities. Many residents assumed that the money had been improperly sent elsewhere.
The General Assembly’s budget staff makes these estimates, but they couldn’t leave Annapolis to attend a community meeting on the subject last night.
So I was the designated explainer.
I began by identifying the cause of the shortfall: the decision not to open a temporary slots facility at Arundel Mills.
Then I shared the blame. “When that was announced, my colleagues and I should have asked for revised estimates, instead of waiting for staff to do so.”
I concluded by discussing the provisions in the law that determine how much money goes to communities, slots players, and education. This time there is an explicit allocation for schools – 48.5% of the money that is not returned to the slots players.
“You put out the fire” about the loss of money, one person said to me afterwards.
