The Oklahoman Editorial, NewsOK
Published: July 8, 2011
NOT so long ago, the state's coffers overflowed. The question wasn't whether state agencies would get more money. The debate was about how much more.
Those days have been gone for a few years now. Those raising the alarm over cuts to common education's budget this fiscal year would do well to remember that.
No doubt the $97.4 million cut to schools hurts. It represents a 4.1 percent cut to a year ago, when the state Education Department received $2.38 billion. But don't forget education still gets the lion's share of taxpayer dollars.
We're concerned about what the cuts mean for children, adult learners and teachers who have pursued extra training with the expectation of a bonus. But budgets aren't crafted in a vacuum. Corrections, transportation, public safety, health and human services all have taken hits in recent years... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Fri, July 8, 2011
by John Cox