The
Wisconsin Lottery has been running for 25 years, has already provided lottery
players with over $6.46 billion in
prizes and paid out a further $714
million in commissions to lottery retailers. That's a lot of loot, but many Wisconsin residents
still feel let down by their state lottery.
When the lottery
was approved, in 1987, the good folk of Wisconsin were also promised property
tax relief and it appears many people prefer the idea of saving money to the
possibility of winning it.
The lottery
has already paid out $3.5 billion in tax relief, but many people feel the sum
should have been more. Lottery director, Michael Edmonds, disagrees, "I think people look upon the
lottery favorably in general, and we’ve been a consistent source of tax relief
for Wisconsin homeowners," Edmonds said. "$3.5 billion is a good chunk of money. We’re pretty
happy with where it’s at."
State
Senator, Robert Cowles, also appears happy with the present arrangement and
believes the lottery has been accepted by the majority of Wisconsin residents. Todd
Berry (Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance) has a different view. "We’ve done
studies where we looked at the lottery credit as a share of the average
property tax bill in Wisconsin. At its peak, it was a 4 to 5 percent reduction,
but it’s approaching a 1 percent reduction now."
Love it or
hate it though; the game goes on, people continue putting their numbers on, and
today's Mega Bucks draw has an expected (annuity) jackpot of $4.2 million.
