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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 12, 2007 Since You Asked: No Library Scratch-its in the pipe The question I have is with all the problems we have with funding libraries all over the state and with all the money the Oregon Lottery takes in to help with roads that go nowhere and the huge paychecks paid to the employees of the Oregon lottery why can't the Oregon Lottery fork over some of the profits to keep libraries open? -- John W. Records we could find on a searchable database of state employee salaries organized by the Salem Statesman-Journal (you can find it via this abbreviated link: tinyurl.com/2lq6yx) show that the top salary paid at the Oregon Lottery is $126,228 to Director Dale Penn. Assistant directors are paid $103,884 each and top managers are paid about $95,000 each. By comparison, Jackson County's top administrator is paid $132,000 in salary, and personnel costs for our three elected commissioners plus two secretaries comes in at $463,313 plus $212,370 in materials and services, according to the county's 2006-07 budget. As far as simply taking lottery money to keep the library open, the state law that governs the lottery limits the use of its proceeds. Voters have required the money to be used only for economic development, public education and natural resource programs. "Roads to nowhere" has never been in the funding mechanism, thankfully. Barring library budgets being legally considered "public education funding" and Oregon schools being so flush with cash that they would willingly forgo their annual lottery stipend (i.e. "when pigs fly"), we don't think you'll see Local Library Scratch-Its anytime soon. That is unless an enterprising citizen such as yourself gets it on the ballot! [email protected] Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary