NewsOK
BY STATE REP. LESLIE OSBORN
Published: October 8, 2010
Over the last several weeks, I have heard critics claim the Legislature is not "stepping up" to fund common education in a worthy manner. However, the National Council of State Legislatures reports Oklahoma is right in line with the rest of the nation.
The average state spends 50 percent of general revenue on education; in Oklahoma we dedicate 53.5 percent to common education, CareerTech and higher education. Last year, the Legislature appropriated approximately one-third of the state budget to common education alone — almost $2.5 billion.
When the Oklahome Education Association states we should increase that amount to the regional states' average, it means adding another $850 million to $1.7 billion per year to the already allocated $2.5 billion. (That proposed increase far exceeds the combined state budget for prisons and roads.) Remember that common education also receives additional federal tax dollars, local property tax dollars and bond issue dollars... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Fri, October 8, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski