Lottery Money

With the transfer of $68.6 million to a dedicated state education fund Tuesday, the state lottery surpassed the total it raised last year for education programs. The transfer means the fund has received nearly $318.8 million so far this fiscal year, which ends July 1. Education programs received $313 million for all of last year. The money is used for class-size reduction and pre-kindergarten initiatives, public school construction and college scholarships. The Legislature projected the lottery would give net profits equal to $350 million to the fund this fiscal year. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 6/24/08).