To the editor: In the letter to the editor

To the editor:

In the letter to the editor in the Oct. 15 Rappahannock News submitted by Bill and Frances Lyne pertaining to the Virginia-sponsored lottery, I would like to point out r some* observations and clarify s6m£' ^misinformation contained therein. . """ The letter stated “it doesn't do what sponsors claimed it would, it has not meant extra money for our schools.” In order to be factual, I contacted the Maryland State Lottery on this point and was advised that after returns to the lottery winners in prizes, the public schools receive 43.6 percent; health, hospital etc. receive 24.8 percent; Public Safety & Correctional Service 8.6 percent; and Human Resources 6.7 percent. The balance is made up of other state activities with only 2.8 percent for administrative expense.

As you can see, the public schools do benefit from the lottery. In addition, the money received by the winners is taxable both by state and federal governments which is utilized by both as income to be passed on to the welfare of the general public.

The letter stated that the poorest third of Marylanders buy 60 percent of all tickets. This figure is very distorted in that those opposed are using the high percentage of tickets sold in Prince George’s County, Md., as a basis. Those opposed have failed to point out the fact that a number of the tickets purchased in Prince George’s Co. are by residents from Northern Virginia.

An article in a recent issue of the Washington Post pointed out the information that one outlet at Colonial Beach, Va., has a weekly take-in exceeding $70,000 in ticket sales. Based on these facts, it would appear that the people of Virginia want a lottery so they can too can epjoy the golden egg. The proceeds deposited to the Maryland State General Fund for the past thirteen years ex