Oklahoma school districts could see more cuts as soon as next month, officials say

All of the post are valid points, but what we need is a workable solution. There is one staring us right in the face. The head of the Oklahoma Tax Commission has been operating a nearly $500 million fraud for some wealthy cronies and businesses. This is not about those tax credits we don’t like, but tax credits taken illegally, using schemes that allow taking huge chunks without qualifying.

One example, the recently failed and now under investigation First State Bank Altus was operating a $642 million fake loan scheme. These fake loan documents were allowed to be used as documentation to show $642 million was invested in businesses and receive $193 million in tax credits.

Another group Scissortail in Shawnee, received $27 million in tax credits by claiming it invested in the following and more. Oklahoma Global Motors which was supposed to build that phantom MG plant for Ardmore which was never happened. Westheimer Aviation which is nothing more than a mailbox in Shawnee, and when tax credits became valid 3 months later Josh Brim the owner of Westheimer Aviation’s bought himself a nice personal corporate he keeps at Wiley Post. Commuter Air Technologies did invest part of it money in a company, but that company is in Arizona.

Oakhills received $22.5 million by claiming to invest $75 million in 7 LLCs that are nothing but the address of mini storage unit Yukon.

You can go to prowlingowl.com and see the rest.

About that secrecy thing, well OTC has been reporting false information for tax credits on Open Books, and they were caught trying to cover that up last Friday. That story is also on prowlingowl.com.

All of that to say we have nearly $500 million in stolen money that belongs to us and we could recovery. The problem is those folks with those fraudulent tax credits are the big donors. It seems the secrecy worked and kept us all in the dark. So while we are busy arguing what we read in the paper, it is what we don’t know that is killing us.

Why don’t we see this in the paper? The Oklahoman is using some tax credits, and a Gaylord family connection is one that filed a false claim. Plus it is the Gaylord’s social set that is benefiting.

There is your money, and there is something you can do about it. But, there is no tooth fairy to take care of us on this. We will have to do our complaining to your state lawmakers, and other officials. Tell your friend and everyone start complaining loud and complaining long!

Terry, Norman: All school districts in Oklahoma are required by Statute to have a Superintendent and a Treasurer. You cannot cut those. No, this is not communism or socialism. School support employees and teaching staff are going to feel the cuts. Decisions on budget cuts are made by Superintendent and the local school board of each district.

Dave, Oklahoma City: You present an interesting idea to attempt to consolidate school districts. Unfortunately, this would probably not happen. First, to consolidate two school district's patrons must vote to do this. Why? Since school district issue bonds, the bond millage levy in one district may be lower than the other one. If you consolidate, the bigger district created would have to take on the debt service of both consolidating districts, thus raising the property tax on some patrons and lowering the tax on others. Another aspect is that many of the smaller districts are in rural areas. The rural Legislators would probabaly not vote for forced consolidation as this would probably mean certain defeat in their next election.

When you talk consolidation, my first group of schools to look at would be the dependent (Pre K - 8) districts. Dependent districts are those whose students attend 9th - 12th grade in another (Pre K -12) district. The dependent schools around Shawnee are perfect examples of these. There are four dependent districts whose 9th-12th graders already attend Shawnee High School.

So will the beurocrats liek superintendents and upper adminstration feel the cuts? NO, it will be the teachers, the students, the aids, the janitors who feel the cuts. Is this communism or socialism or what is it? If the DOk had any nuts they would investigate who exactly is gonna take the cuts.

What if no school district with less than 1000 students could receive state aid? 1 if 2 things would happen. Consolidate school districts thereby eliminating duplicate or triplicate administrative staff, or patrons in small districts fund their own small school.

How much money has the OKC School District spent trying to keep a gay teacher out of the classroom? About 100 grand so far and still want to appeal and fight a case they'll lose over and over. Think about how much education money is being wasted by administrators and school boards.

Class 2 gaming in the casinos was supposed to "fund education" as well when it passed around 2004.

If our legislature said the fees from gay marriage would fund education, it would pass. We have some intelligent people, but groups of people can be quite stupid.

Our people read "fund education" without reading the whole story and vote yes. That's dumb.

While casinos are increasing net worth at an exponential rate 2M, 8M 20M, 80M, 120M our students are still suffering. People need to read the facts. We're getting hosed.

Yeah, the lottery will only give schools extra money if the schools buy up all the lottery tickets and win.

As it is the lotto cash just replaced funds schools already had.

Good thing we have that lottery to fund education. Oh wait.... nevermind