Articles
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Budget & Tax
Tax cut effects on sales tax revenue
While the state sales tax rate has remained at 4.5% for the past two decades, revenue brought in from the tax has grown even when adjusted for inflation and population growth.Curtis Shelton | April 16, 2018
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Budget & Tax
Capital gains volatility
While removing the capital gains deduction would bring in additional revenue, it would also become one more unstable revenue source.Curtis Shelton | April 13, 2018
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Education
Turf over textbooks?
Since March 29, $610 million in new tax increases and annual revenues have become law. Since the 2015 legislative session, more than $1 billion in new tax increases and annual revenues have become law.Jonathan Small | April 12, 2018
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Good Government
Sunlight is the best disinfectant
In 2015, House Bill 1748, authored by state Sen. Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) and state Rep. Tom Newell (R-Seminole), required Oklahoma state agencies to publicly report not only the amount of federal funding they receive but also the strings attached to that money. The measure passed overwhelmingly in both chambers but was vetoed by Gov. Mary Fallin.Brandon Dutcher | April 12, 2018
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Education
School districts' funding confusing to taxpayers
Thanks to the various restrictions on how schools can spend money, it is possible for an Oklahoma school district to be both nearly broke and rolling in dollars at the same time.Mike Brake | April 11, 2018
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Education
The $106K teacher
School choice is good for teachers. With so much focus on education policy right now, that’s an important fact.Jonathan Small | April 5, 2018
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Education
With a raise, where do Oklahoma teachers rank in the region?
When looking at regional teacher pay, Oklahoma moves from the bottom of the list to second, just behind Texas, with a new average salary of more than $51,000. When cost of living is taken into account Oklahoma nears the top ten nationally.Curtis Shelton | April 5, 2018
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Higher Education
Terrific hire
The University of Oklahoma regents have selected James Gallogly as the next OU president. It’s a terrific hire.Jonathan Small | March 30, 2018
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Education
Minimum teacher salaries: Oklahoma vs. Texas
If Oklahoma wants to compete with Texas, including for teachers, we should consider how they fund education and understand why it is possible to pay teachers more south of the Red River.Curtis Shelton | March 29, 2018
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Higher Education
OU foundation received $1 million in Chinese government funds for Confucius Institute
The University of Oklahoma may have evaded a federal requirement to report foreign donations by channeling more than $1 million in Chinese government funds for its Confucius Institute through the private OU Foundation, an OCPA investigation has found.Mike Brake | March 27, 2018