OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Lottery Commission executive director Rollo Redburn on Tuesday sent up a trial balloon for lawmakers.
The Lottery Commission for years has said that the requirement that 35 percent of its profits go to education reduces what it could actually earn.
Commission staffers say increasing prizes would drive up sales, raising the amount given to education by amounts significantly larger than what is currently generated.
But lawmakers have balked at the idea. Some lawmakers have suggested privatizing the agency created by a vote of the people.
Redburn, during the commission’s monthly meeting, said if the profit requirement were reduced, it would generate an additional $42 million for schools on top of what it already will provide in the next five years.
Those dollars could go toward storm shelters in schools, Redburn said.
Storm shelters have been a hot topic at the Capitol following a May tornado that killed seven children at the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore. On Wednesday, supporters of a $500 million bond issue for school storm shelters and school security are expected to file the necessary paperwork to begin gathering signatures to put the issue to a statewide vote.
Lottery Commissioner James Orbison expressed his frustration with the lack of interest by lawmakers in changing the profit requirement.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the lottery, he said. Meanwhile, lawmakers are representing those who put them in office with respect to changing the requirement, Orbison said.
Lawmakers should make the change and give it two years to work, he said. If it fails, they could go back to the 35 percent requirement, Orbison said.
“Now we can’t get anyone to listen to us,” Orbison said. “It is very frustrating.”
He suggested the commission consider recommending abolishing itself.
Some people believe the lottery is immoral and wrong although it generates revenue for education, Orbison said.
Commissioner Blake Virgin said the lottery annually gives between $60 million and $70 million to education and then the Legislature kicks the agency “in the crotch every year.”
“We can’t even get education to say good things about us,” Orbison said.
Redburn said he has spoken to various civic and professional organizations with hopes of changing minds one person at a time. He said he tries to speak to real people, other than just politicians.
Commissioner Charlotte Edwards said the vast majority of lawmakers are proud to say they cut money for education so they can say fewer tax dollars are being spent.
“That is sad,” she said. “That is very sad.”
The lottery has provided $558.6 million to education since its inception, Redburn said.
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