Articles
-
Budget & Tax
Remember the lessons of state shortfall years
Oklahomans know that tax money ultimately comes out of their pockets, and they appreciate it when state leaders take a long-term view of state finances rather than embrace the collective amnesia preferred by those who spend other peoples’ money.Jonathan Small | September 21, 2022
-
Budget & Tax, Education
Oklahoma schools’ federal spending highlighted at meeting
Oklahoma schools are flush with federal cash, including COVID-bailout money, with only limited spending restrictions. Some reported uses have little obvious connection to COVID, as experts warn improper spending could create financial challenges for schools within two years.Ray Carter | August 29, 2022
-
Budget & Tax
It’s time to modernize Oklahoma’s sales-tax structure
Modernizing Oklahoma’s sales tax structure will help create a more well-balanced tax environment and will make it easier to end Oklahoma’s reliance on the income tax.Curtis Shelton | August 10, 2022
-
Budget & Tax
Panasonic lessons can provide clarity
Transformational policy reforms and not corporate welfare hold the keys to creating an Oklahoma where Oklahomans can thrive.Jonathan Small | August 8, 2022
-
Budget & Tax, Good Government
Oklahoma state savings reach historic level
Gov. Kevin Stitt says record-high savings means the Oklahoma government can now provide tax relief.Ray Carter | August 4, 2022
-
Budget & Tax
Lankford, other Republicans warn against tax increase
U.S. Sen. James Lankford and other Republican lawmakers warn that a proposed tax-and-spend package recently unveiled by Democrats, the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” will hammer U.S. manufacturing and cause consumer prices to surge even amidst historic levels of inflation.Ray Carter | August 4, 2022
-
Budget & Tax, Education
Administrative spending soars at largest Oklahoma school districts
A state watchdog agency found that administrative spending is growing at a faster pace than instructional spending in the Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Putnam City, and Lawton school districts, but not in Broken Arrow or Jenks.Ray Carter | August 3, 2022
-
Budget & Tax, Education
Watchdog: Oklahoma schools paid millions for unnecessary services
Oklahoma schools have received millions of dollars in annual funding to teach English to bilingual students who have already mastered the language, apparently allowing schools to inflate their budgets without providing extra services, a state watchdog agency has found.Ray Carter | July 27, 2022
-
Budget & Tax, Education
Major irregularities found in school spending reports
A cursory review of the state’s Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS), a program that compiles financial data from all public-school districts, quickly identified significant irregularities, including reports showing Oklahoma schools spent nearly a quarter-million dollars on firearms that were labeled as nutrition services and other non-weapon categories.Ray Carter | July 26, 2022
-
Budget & Tax, Education
Hofmeister backs down, agrees to greater transparency
Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters has prevailed in a face-off with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister regarding millions of dollars in state spending.Ray Carter | July 25, 2022