Articles
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Budget & Tax, Education
Oklahoma offers lavish teacher benefits, study shows
Oklahoma’s public-school teachers face no out-of-pocket expense for their health insurance premiums because state government foots the entire tab. That’s far more generous than what most other states offer—even though the taxpayer cost of providing that perk is escalating rapidly in Oklahoma, according to a new state report.Ray Carter | December 16, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
Non-teaching staff surge limits Oklahoma teacher pay raises
Not only has the staffing surge cost teachers money, it has shown no effect on student outcomes.Curtis Shelton | November 21, 2022
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Budget & Tax
State savings on pace to grow
New data now show the state is on pace to add even more money to the state’s “rainy day” fund at the end of the ongoing budget year due to surplus collections.Ray Carter | November 18, 2022
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Budget & Tax
Unfunded mandate proves headwind to state retirement system
Although the funded status of the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System (OTRS) improved dramatically for a decade, an unfunded benefit-increase mandated by lawmakers in 2020 effectively eliminated four years’ worth of continued progress, according to data presented to lawmakers.Ray Carter | November 1, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
State figures underreport school spending by billions
There are 171 public school districts in Oklahoma that spend more than $14,000 per student.Ray Carter | October 20, 2022
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Budget & Tax
Hofmeister criticized for withholding COVID spending records
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister withheld information on billions of dollars in spending from a lawmaker for nearly two months, and only provided the requested information after state Rep. Chad Caldwell notified the media.Ray Carter | October 19, 2022
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Budget & Tax
Tax Commission: Indians not exempt from Oklahoma tax
Although the U.S. Supreme Court has held that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s reservation still exists in Oklahoma for purposes of a federal crime law, a subsequent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court also means most tribal members living in Oklahoma still have to pay state taxes, according to a new Oklahoma Tax Commission ruling.Ray Carter | October 12, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Culture & the Family
OCPA praises legislative effort to protect children and families
OCPA praises legislative effort to protect children and familiesJonathan Small | September 27, 2022
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Budget & Tax
What’s in OKC schools’ massive bond package?
A property tax increase is on the ballot for residents of the Oklahoma City School District.Trent England | September 27, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Culture & the Family
Oklahoma to fund transgender procedures on kids?
Even as Tennessee’s governor has called for an investigation of a Vanderbilt clinic performing double mastectomies on adolescent girls, Oklahoma is poised to indirectly fund an OU hospital providing and abetting similar “transgender” services.Ray Carter | September 26, 2022