Division of the Lottery

The Enacted Budget makes no changes to the State Operations portion of the proposed Executive Budget (May 1, 2003).

The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of February 7, 2003):

·        A $7.4 million or 6.9% reduction in the Administration program.

·        An estimated FTE fill level of 331, which represents a decrease of 6 positions.  The Division currently has 19 fewer FTEs than was anticipated in the SFY 2002-03 budget.

·        According to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, significant adjustments include the following:

• A Special Revenue-Other decrease of $1,500,000 in the Administration Program due to staff attrition and the elimination of unfunded vacancies; this relates to the 19 FTE reduction from the estimated March 31, 2003 FTE level in the SFY 2002-03 Executive Budget.
• A Special Revenue-Other decrease of $500,000 for the discontinuation of the annual report that is published in newspapers around the State.
• A Special Revenue-Other decrease of $650,000 for the discontinuation of the New York Lottery Educator of the Week Program.
• A Special Revenue-Other decrease of $400,000 for Empire State Games media programs.
• A Special Revenue-Other decrease of $400,000 for the discontinuation of the Computer Technology Program.
• A Special Revenue-Other decrease of $85,000 for the elimination of the operation of the Lottery Education Bus.
• A Special Revenue-Other decrease of $3,900,000 for advertising for the Instant Games.
• The Governor recommends an appropriation of $17,200,000 for the Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) Program and legislation to change VLT Program by increasing the hours of operation, altering the distribution of receipts, and eliminating the current sunset provision
• The Executive recommends marketing up to 34 new Instant games during SFY 2003-04, with ticket prices ranging from $1 to $10.