Today's Most Popular Video
Oct 23, 2008 10:52 pm US/Central
Good Question: Doesn't Lottery Pay For Environment?
(WCCO)
The signs are in people's lawns, the commercials are constantly on television, urging Minnesotans to "Vote Yes" for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. But "Doesn't the lottery money already pay for the environment?" asked Minneapolis resident Andrew Savoca.
"Absolutely, it goes to support the environment," said Susan Thornton, the state of Minnesota employee who directs the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
Thornton and her agency's staff review all of the funding requests that come to the trust fund, to decide which proposals to fund.
"Right now, we have $100 million of proposals for $25 million that are available," said Thornton.
The Minnesota Lottery sends 60 percent of its profits to the general fund. The remaining 40 percent goes to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. That breaks down to about 7 cents of every dollar spent going for the environment trust fund, according to Thornton.
Savoca said he spends approximately $80 a week on lottery tickets. That means he's sending $5.60 to the environment.
"That's not as much as I thought," said Savoca.
According to Thornton, the $25 million in the trust fund is not the main source of funding for the environment, not by a long shot.
"The trust fund can provide less than one-half of one percent.... It's a small part [of the total budget spending on the outdoors and environment]. It was always meant to supplement the regular budget. It was meant for acceleration, for innovation, for projects of long term benefit," said Thornton.
The trust fund tries to focus its grant efforts on various topics each year.
"So we might be focused on groundwater issues one year, and land acquisition the next," she added.
The majority of state funding for the outdoors and conservation comes from the state's general fund. But proponents of amending the state constitution say that effort is not enough.
"Spending on conservation and environment is at a 30 year low as a percentage of the state budget," said Charlie Poster, Communications Director for Vote Yes Minnesota.
"In 1999, the state spent $239.4 million in general funds for conservation and environment. This represented 2.18 percent of a total general fund budget of $10.98 billion. By 2009, the state allocated only $174.8 million in general funds for conservation, barely 1 percent of a total general fund budget of $17.4 billion," he said.
Opponents of the proposal have cited the 3/8 percent increase in the state sales tax as a problem as well as a philosophical opposition to the use of the state constitution to direct budget decisions.
If the lottery provides $25 million a year for the environment, the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment would provide $243 million a year to clean water, the outdoors, and parks. An additional $59 million a year would go to arts and culture. Supporters estimate the average Minnesota household would pay less than $60 more a year in sales taxes.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Man Recalls Night Friend Was Shot By Cop
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
