Lottery share lower than expected
daily news staffCounties throughout North Carolina are starting to see some money from the state’s education lottery. Onslow County has been counting on that money to help them fulfill a promise made in June to the Onslow County Schools. Back then, the Board of Commissioners voted to give the schools an extra $3.5 million in funding partially based on $1.7 million in anticipated lottery proceeds. State officials say that as part of the state’s first quarter transfer of lottery proceeds, $95 million is available. Onslow County will receive $546,441, including $411,030 for school construction and $135,411 for the More at Four program for at-risk pre-kindergarteners. County officials said the amount is slightly less than expected. County officials plan to request that the school construction funds be used to pay interest on the $90 million school bond approved by voters last fall. “That frees up other monies we have for (the school district’s) ongoing capital outlay needs,” said Onslow County Finance Officer Alvin Barrett. Barrett said he doesn’t know yet when the money will be accessible to the county. Carteret County has similar plans in mind for its lottery money. The county is slated to receive $314,842 for More at Four and $148,662 for school construction. “We’re going to use it for our debt service (on the $50 million bond),” said Finance Director Dee Meshaw. According to Gov. Mike Easley’s office, Duplin County is getting $307,505 for school construction and $338,527 for More at Four. Pender County is getting $134,040 and $242,279 respectively. Fifty percent of the funds for education from the lottery go toward reducing class size and More at Four. Forty percent is for school construction, and the rest goes toward college scholarships.