California lottery didn’t give $36M to schools, auditor says

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California's state auditor says the California State Lottery skimped on giving $36 million in revenue to fund public education funding and spent $720,000 on food and travel expenses without considering cheaper options.

The auditor's report made public Tuesday says the lottery agency should have accounted for an increase in profits for the fiscal year that ended in June 2018 by providing an $36 million in public education financing.

The California State Lottery says in a written response accompanying the audit that it disagrees with the auditor's findings and that the agency gives the most money it can for education.

Earlier this month, a state legislator called for an audit of the lottery to look into a whistleblower complaint about more than $200,000 worth of scratchers tickets given to Ellen DeGeneres' TV show for audience gifts.

Sen. Ling Ling Chang said she was concerned about how the contribution affects funds that the lottery is supposed to generate for public schools.