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Consolation Prize

The record $1.537 billion Mega Millions lottery in October was won by a single ticket purchased in South Carolina — but the winner still hasn’t come forward. “We’re starting to get nervous,” says Frank Rainwater, director of the state’s Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. Legislators were counting on the $61 million it expected to collect from the winner in income taxes for extra discretionary spending. Much more delay might kick the windfall into fiscal 2020’s budget instead. Or, worse, if the winner doesn’t come forward by the 180-day deadline, lawmakers won’t get their paws on it at all: the jackpot will be paid out to the unclaimed prizes fund in each state that participates in Mega Millions in proportion to ticket sales. In that case, South Carolina’s share would be around $11 million, and that would be earmarked for education spending. (RC/Charleston Post and Courier) ...Which just might be enough for a new state-wide class on fiscal responsibility.