Lottery deposits up for HOPE, pre-K but struggles continue

Georgia Lottery deposits for HOPE and pre-kindergarten programs increased during the 2012 fiscal year, but financial struggles continue for the college scholarship.

The lottery deposited more than $901 million for the two programs, a $55.2 million increase over last year, officials said Wednesday. Since inception, the lottery has raised more than $13.6 billion for education programs.

While successful, the lottery can't keep up with growing enrollment and tuition. To prevent HOPE from going broke, lawmakers overhauled the program and reduced payouts.

Projections show high school freshmen should expect HOPE to cover less than half tuition and fees at the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia State by the time they start college.

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