Lottery chairman prefers salary discretion

RALEIGH — The chairman of the state lottery commission believes the lottery needs discretion in determining pay raises for its employees.

Chairman John McArthur responded to an amendment approved this week in the House’s proposed state budget limiting lottery raises to no more than that of other state employees.

The lottery commission approved last month giving average 5 percent raises to its employees. The House budget proposed across-the-board raises to state employees of the greater of 2.75
percent or $1,100.

McArthur told The News & Observer of Raleigh on Thursday the General Assembly can do whatever it wishes. But he said keeping individual salary decisions with the lottery will lead to a
better-run operation and more lottery revenues.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)