In the seven years since the first of Maryland's six casinos opened, they have pumped $1.7 billion into the state's Education Trust Fund — the financial windfall that advocates for gambling promised would go to the state's public schools.
But over that time, casino funds have not gone to bolster school budgets more than what the state already was required to spend — and some jurisdictions, including Baltimore, have suffered funding cuts.
That's because the state officials who approved casino gambling in 2008 — Gov. Martin O'Malley and his Democratic allies in the General Assembly — didn't require that school aid keep pace with the growth in gambling.
State budget analysts say the money from the casino-fueled Education Trust Fund is, in fact, going to schools, helping to pay for rising costs. But that stream has allowed the governor and lawmakers to take money that once went to schools and redirect it to pay salaries, fund roadwork and support other government programs and services.
"While gambling was sold as a way to bring in more money for education, it really hasn't been putting more money in schools," said Benjamin Orr, director of the Maryland Center on Economic Policy. "We've essentially invested the same amount of money in our schools that we would have with or without legalized gambling."
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10 comments:
Why does this surprise anyone? It's the same bait and switch they pulled with the lottery.
As 7:47 AMm said!!! Also to add, it is all of the free stuff the illegals get, who take up 80% of the space in almost all schools around the country... Also, becasue the board of Ed is wastefully spending that money as much as they can, just like how the local and federal govt spends our tax money... It is all so they can say see look, there is no money in the funds to pay for projects, oppps we need to raise more taxes and fees...
Great question...do the words 'wasteful spending' ring a bell?
80% of the room in the schools? There are a little over 50 million kids in public school. Crazy because in 2016 there were a total of 11.3 million illeagals total in America. Somehow according to your math there are 40 million illegal students. Almost 4 times the total illegal population. STOP just throwing random numbers out.
If memory serves me correctly, SbyNews revealed the absolute fraud going on at the Wicomico Board of Ed where administrators and teachers were spending money hand over fist on dinners for themselves and lavish trips. This fraudulent behavior probably accounts for some of the deficit in spite of casino revenues.
Just like the cigarette tax, remember that? 7:47 am is correct !
The schools are short on cash due to high wages for administration.
Baltimore and PG County schools are giant money sucking machines. The Shore gets the dregs.
So our state legislature found another funding stream to pay school bills and everyone is upset? Someone mentioned bait and switch.
WHOA - as a local waterman, I'm "offended" by the term bait and switch. We must fight for the correct terminology to outline a misnomer.
"Slight of Hand" is the everyday common occurrence in Annapolis. Do not allow your elected officials to tell you otherwise. Slight of Hand with appropriated resources identified for schools has allowed Annapolis to redirect said resources to pay other pet PORK projects.
I'd like to take the back of my hand and slightly hit each state representative in their FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See its going toward the children it just never reaches them.
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