How much lottery ticket cash ends up in Michigan classrooms? We did the math

It’sanannualritualinMichigan:Thestateproclaiminghowmuchcashthelotteryispouringintoschools.Gov.GretchenWhitmerrecentlyannouncedthatfortheseventhyearinarow,thelotterycontributedmorethan$1billiontotheSchoolAidFund. Butbuyinga$1scratch-offdoesn’tmeanyou’vejustpumped$1intoschoolcoffers.Infact,Michiganschoolsgetaboutafourthofthat—orless,dependinghowyoucountit. Foreverydollarspentonalotteryticket,63centsgoestowardprizes.Ninecentstowardlotterysalescommissionsand3centsforoperationsandadministrationcosts.ThatleavesaboutaquarterforMichigan’sSchoolAidFund. Wedecidedtofindoutwhathappensnexttothatquarter: Wheredoesmyquartergo? The25centsgoestotheSchoolAidFund,apotofmoney—includingsales,incomeandpropertytaxrevenue—that’susedtopayforK-12schoolsaswellassomeearlychildhoodprograms. Lotteryproceedsaccountforlessthan6%oftheSchoolAidFund,andformorethanadecade,thefundhasalsobeenusedtohelppayforcommunitycollegeandpublicunive