Idaho Lottery Celebrates 36th Year Showcasing Improvements to College Campuses
CONTACT: David Workman
208-334-2600
BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Lottery celebrated 36 years of entertainment and games by showcasing their contributions to the State of Idaho’s Permanent Building Fund and the work done on college campuses. The Idaho Lottery’s announcement came during a ceremony at the College of Western Idaho as Governor Brad Little accepted the People of Idaho’s dividend check for $75 million.
This year’s $75 million dividend is the third largest in the Lottery’s 36-year history.
“Equally important, Lottery dividends provide critical resources for our infrastructure of state-owned buildings, the bulk of those being on our college campuses,” said Brad Little, Idaho Governor. “Lottery dividends also are paying down the voter-approved bonds and levies on public school facilities at a record pace, reducing taxpayer burdens to provide quality education for our youth.”
After a change by the Idaho Legislature in 2024, Idaho Lottery dividends are used by school districts to provide property tax relief by paying down voter-approved bonds and levies. In addition, three-eighths of the dividend is used by the Department of Administration’s Permanent Building Fund to complete maintenance, alteration and repair, and capital projects on the State’s permanent facilities.
“Today's dividend announcement, and this past year's achievements during a difficult, but improving economy, are the result of smart work from a dedicated team of professionals at the Idaho Lottery," said Andrew Arulanandam, Idaho Lottery Director. “The result of our efforts can be seen in the work done by the Division of Public Works and the Permanent Building Fund and in real world examples like the new CapEd Student Success Center now being constructed on the CWI Campus.”
Governor Little and Idaho Lottery Commission Chairman Craig Corbett awarded Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield and the Department of Education a check for $46,875,000.
"Lottery dividends facilitate an important investment in the integrity and safety of the facilities that our students and staff use daily," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield. "The direct impact that these improvements can make on the experiences that students and staff have in our schools cannot be understated, and we're grateful to the Idaho Lottery Commission for making this contribution possible for our communities."
On behalf of the Department of Administration and Director Steve Bailey, Dale Reynolds, Director of the Department’s Division of Public Works, received a check worth $28,125,000 from Governor Little and Commissioner Corbett.
"This Idaho Lottery dividend will fund crucial projects for our facilities across the State of Idaho," announced Steve Bailey, Director of the Idaho Department of Administration. "These funds are essential for maintaining and enhancing our state agencies, universities, colleges, and public buildings. They support vital maintenance, safety improvements, and ensure our facilities remain modern and well-maintained. We extend our sincere gratitude to the citizens of Idaho whose participation in the lottery makes these investments possible."
This year’s dividend comes after the Idaho Lottery eclipsed $400 million in revenue for the third consecutive year.
In addition to the dividend, the Idaho Lottery also awarded $274.8 million in prizes to players while the Lottery’s network of 1,230 brick and mortar retail locations earned $23.3 million in commissions.
Public Media Folder: https://drive.google.com/
###