Plans to Raffle Homes to Help School District Ditched

 NAMPA, Idaho (AP) — A southwestern Idaho school district's struggle to fix its finances won't get a boost from a home raffle, after concerns raised by the state's lottery agency prompted the effort's promoter to scrap the giveaway.

The Idaho Lottery Commission told retired developer Phil Allaire that his plan to sell $100 raffle tickets to raise $4.3 million to eventually benefit the Nampa School District was a potential violation of state and federal laws. Allaire planned to give away the first house after 2,500 tickets had been sold.

He'd hoped the proceeds would ease the district's $5.1 million deficit, a result of financial mismanagement that's forced officials to consider job cuts. Allaire said he'll return money to the 49 people who purchased tickets already. Meanwhile, he's considering taking the Lottery Commission to court.