$3.7 million from lottery earmarked for Bartholomew County (brief)

Teachers and first-responders will see their retirement pensions beefed up this month.

Utilizing funds raised through the Hoosier Lottery, Bartholomew County has or will receive more than $370,000 for the Teachers’ Retirement Fund this year, as well as $408,000 for local police and firefighter pensions.

In addition, $2.9 million is earmarked for the Lottery Surplus Fund, which is designed to receive surplus money not earmarked for a particular purpose to meet obligations in the same manner as other public funds are invested. Whatever funds are left are transferred to the state general fund at the end of a state fiscal year.

This is the fourth decade that lottery funds have been a part of Bartholomew County’s income. In November 1988, Indiana voters approved a lottery referendum with a 62% majority. State lawmakers ratified the Lottery Act six months later, and former Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh signed it into law.

Scratch-off sales began in October 1989, and more than 8 million tickets were sold on the first day.

State and government officials have frequently said they will not spend lottery revenue to pay employee salaries because lottery income is inconsistent and salaries require a set amount of money annually.

Nevertheless, the Hoosier Lottery has returned more than $6.3 billion to the state of Indiana over the past 31 years.