Tulsa World
By MURRAY EVANS Associated Press
Published: 10/27/201011:11 AM
Last Modified: 10/27/201011:11 AM
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma is guaranteed to have a new state superintendent for the first time in 20 years and there's little question the fate of a controversial state question concerning education funding will dramatically affect the winner of the race.
"If State Question 744 passes," independent superintendent candidate Richard Cooper of Ada said, "It's my understanding that the state superintendent will have a lot to say about how that funding is used."
The proposed constitutional amendment would require Oklahoma within three years to meet the regional average of per-student spending of its six surrounding states. Oklahoma ranked 49th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in such expenditures in 2008, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Estimates on how much the proposal would cost the state over the next three years range from about $900 million to $1.7 billion. The ballot measure has no funding mechanism in place and does not call for a tax increase. Of the three superintendent candidates, Cooper supports 744, Republican Janet Barresi opposes it and Democratic state Sen. Susan Paddack of Ada has declined to take a position, saying she wants the people to decide.
Supporters say increases can be paid for by ending legislative perks and many tax credits, while detractors say the proposal would result in large funding cuts for other state agencies unless taxes are raised... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Wed, October 27, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski