Lottery workers get bigger raises than other state workers

RALEIGH -- Employees for the North Carolina Lottery will be getting bigger raises than most state workers. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Friday the Lottery Commission has approved average raises of 5 percent for its 225 employees. Most state workers are getting a 1.5 percent raise and a one-time cash bonus. Lottery employees are considered state employees, but their pay comes from lottery ticket sales, not the regular tax revenue that pays most state workers. Lottery employees don't get the across-the-board raises the General Assembly approves for most state workers. The commission plans to spend $45,000 to study its salary ranges because officials think they might be too low. Executive director Tom Shaheen says the agency has found it hard to hire and keep good employees because of the pay. Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)