Articles
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
OKC Mayor Holt ducks reparations questions from citizens
More than six months after touting his leadership role in the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt remains silent on whether he agrees with that group’s support for potential reparation payments for slavery and racial discrimination, a proposal that could cost up to $6.2 quadrillion.Ray Carter | January 14, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Education
Nearly $100 million unspent from school COVID funds
Although some school officials have claimed COVID-19 has created new spending needs that exceed available funding, creating financial strain in state schools, districts have been slow to spend federal bailout money provided specifically for those needs, state senators were told Monday.Ray Carter | January 11, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Education
Pay hikes may do little for teacher shortage, student reading
In the 2018 legislative session, lawmakers passed some of the biggest tax increases in Oklahoma history, saying the additional taxes were needed to boost teacher pay and increase the number of educators in public schools.Ray Carter | January 11, 2021
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Budget & Tax
Spending restraint may benefit 2022 state budget
Modest state spending restraint, prompted last spring in the face of an unprecedented pandemic-driven economic shutdown, may make dealing with this year’s state budget slightly easier, although it will not eliminate budget challenges, based on information presented at the December meeting of the State Board of Equalization.Ray Carter | December 18, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Moore per-student revenue increasing
Moore Public Schools has seen steady enrollment growth throughout the past decade, with the student count growing by nearly 14 percent since 2010.Curtis Shelton | December 18, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Court case may highlight McGirt challenges for retailers
Business owners wondering how a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling could upend sales-tax issues in eastern Oklahoma may get a hint from a grocery store’s legal challenges now under way in state and federal courts.Ray Carter | December 1, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Muskogee per-pupil revenue growing
Enrollment in Muskogee Public Schools has declined by nearly 900 students, a 13 percent decrease, over the last decade. Over that same time, total revenues have fallen by 5 percent.Curtis Shelton | November 19, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Higher Education
Higher education’s budget request unrealistic
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recently released their budget request for the upcoming fiscal year starting on July 1. That request looks to increase the budget for higher education by 11.5 percent, a nearly $90 million increase.Curtis Shelton | November 16, 2020
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Budget & Tax
State pensions lose ground after unfunded mandate
Legislators’ decision to pass an unfunded cost-of-living adjustment that boosted payments to retired state government workers has left state pension systems paying out money faster than it comes in.Ray Carter | November 10, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Jenks revenue increases, per-pupil revenue falls
Jenks Public Schools has seen consistent growth in enrollment over the last decade while revenue remained somewhat flat until a large increase in fiscal year 2019.Curtis Shelton | November 5, 2020