Report: Ga Lottery execs received large payments

ATLANTA (AP) Top Georgia Lottery executives received large payouts and raises despite a law mean to curb bonuses.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports more than $260,000 worth of "incentive pay" went to top staffers in 2011. Then-Lottery President Margaret DeFrancisco received the largest amount, almost $83,000.

Lawmakers that year passed legislation to curtail bonuses for Lottery executives. At the time, both ticket sales and payments to state education programs were declining.

Georgia Lottery Board Chairman Jimmy Braswell says the organization followed the law.

Lottery spokeswoman Tandi Reddick says the pay increases were a result of promotions and additional work taken on by top lottery executives.

A former lawmaker who pushed for limits, Bill Hembree of Winston, calls the payments disheartening. He says the General Assembly meant to stop all such bonuses.