The Minnesota State Lottery will cut 15 jobs and close its offices in Brainerd and Eagan in a move intended to save $1 million beginning in July.
Interim lottery director Mike Vekich said Wednesday's moves will make "the lottery more efficient and effective." The restructuring was a response to a legislative auditor's report released in February, he said.
The job cuts affect three Brainerd employees and two in Eagan. Nine workers in Roseville also received layoff notices. Accountants, secretaries, graphic artists, maintenance and customer service people were among those let go.
Since the auditor's report, Vekich has ended the lottery's sponsorship of a bass fishing tour and canceled the "Environmental Experience" semi-trailer truck and radio and television promotional shows, all done under contract with Media Rare of St. Paul.
Those moves, along with the layoffs and closings, are expected to save $4.3 million.
"The business is well-positioned now for efficiency and effectiveness, and it will be well-planned," Vekich said.
The lottery will keep its offices in Detroit Lakes, Mountain Iron/Virginia, Owatonna and Marshall.
The lottery management has now dealt with about 45 of the auditor's 49 recommendations and hopes to finish the rest in the next couple weeks, Vekich said.
Vekich became the lottery's director after the suicide of former director George Andersen, who killed himself in January apparently over concerns about the audit and fears that he would lose his job.
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