We get it — the economy is in the crapper.

However, that is no excuse for the Georgia Lottery Corporation flagrantly abusing the “as near as practical” clause in the Lottery for Education Act of 1992. The GLC is supposed to allot “as near as practical” 35 percent of its proceeds to educational programs, such as the HOPE scholarship.

The GLC contributed 25.3 percent this year. That may not sound like a large amount less than what we are supposed to get, but when 1 percent equals $33.4 million, we’re talking about a substantial chunk of change. And this year isn’t the first year the GLC has failed to meet the 35 percent mark.  It’s missed the mark every year since 1998, and the percentage has been on a progressive, downward slope.

Our question for the members of the GLC is what is the rock-bottom percentage?

One of the reasons your corporation was founded was to help fund educational endeavors in our state. Yet, you are proving more and more each year that you aren’t achieving at the level the law mandates. Both Gov. Nathan Deal and University President Michael Adams have said Georgians should let members of the GLC do what they think is best.

However, at some point, there must be accountability for measures taken. With no accountability, the allotment percentage is likely to shrink down into the low-twenties or the teens. This has the potential to dry up the HOPE scholarship that many of us depend on in order to attend this fine institution. At some point, “as near as practical,” is no longer practical.

We’re at that point.

— Charles Hicks for the editorial board

The editorial board is made up of Rachel G. Bowers, Joe Williams, Adam Carlson, Charles Hicks and Melissa Buckman