Oklahoma's House Bill 1017 fund is expected to contribute $573.7 million to common education this fiscal year, less than the originally anticipated $610.8 million, according to Office of State Finance projections.
The fund is a revenue stream included in the massive 1990 education reform law that overhauled the way Oklahoma schools are funded.
State Treasurer Scott Meacham has reported a decline this year in the collection of taxes like income, sales and tobacco — all revenue sources for the 1017 fund.
"It would obviously be devastating if the state aid formula was $37 million short," Garrett said.
Corporate income taxes accounted for the fund's biggest decrease in revenue, Meacham said.
"Corporate collections are the most sensitive to what's going on in the national economy," he said.
Education Department spokeswoman Shelly Hickman said if the agency isn't approved for $43.1 million in supplemental funding, "we would have to prorate the aid given to schools for the remainder of the year."
Oklahoma schools haven't been given new operations funds in several years, and officials have been dealing with higher utility and fuel costs.
Prorating state aid payments would men less funds that the districts had already factored into their budgets, officials said.
The Board of Education is expected to hear Garrett's request to ask for supplemental funding at its regular meeting next week. If approved, the measure would be considered by legislators.
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Suzanne, Public Schools get 35% of the states revenue, a number that has declined. Higher Ed gets close to 20%, a number that is increasing.
The 1017 fund is down $37.5 million, the lottery is $4.5 million short, and the IRS changed a ruling, which costs school districts $1.5 million, that is where the large number comes from.
Gary
The local school gets their share of property tax directly from the Accessors. But until the construction is complete, and some one occupies the property they do not get the any increased value. Plus, Oklahoma has some of the lowest property tax in the country, so it is 30 to 40% of schools budget. The majority of the schools budget is tied to state revenue
What do you mean they always get their money? A few years ago teachers were being let go because there was not enough money to support the teachers. If teachers are being let go, then how are schools ALWAYS getting their money?
the article states that the revenue sources were income tax, sales tax and tobacco tax. What I want to know is (and pardon me if this question is dumb, blame it on my government education) where in the heck is the money that is generated by property tax? With all the new construction going up all around everywhere you would think the districts were making money hand over fist. I also thought the lottery was going to be the end all be all solution to education's money woes. We all know how that turned out.
Chris, I guess the casinos get the cake and the schools get the icing. I imagine that the gambling industry in OK is over a billion dollars a year. Imagine if that billion dollars was spent on consumable goods instead of gambling.
OMG Matt I love how you major in the minor details. Duh. The SDE makes a budget; once again not what I said. You people need to learn to read. And to answer your question about my job: it's a non sequitor: the SDE WILL GET THEIR MONEY. They always do and that's my whole freaking point! They will likely get the mystery $6M extra as well.
Suzanne, schools do not just make up a number. They have to create a budget with everything from electric bills to salaries. By the way, you never answered what you would do if your job didn't pay you what they promised.
Pay attention Tony. Never did I say the state shouldn't pay for education. What I did say is they are the giant sucking sound heard 'round the state because each year it's never enough. They've got the lottery, over half our state budget, individual schools have several fundraisers each year, dedicated property taxes, and still it's never enough. Each year our legislators bow to their demands and each year our students get dumber and the salaries of those dumbing them down get higher. I think it's obvious that more money is not working.
My question for Suzanne and others is that what exactly do you think they should do with the state budget? What services does our state actually provide besides Education, DHS, and the prison system. Of course education takes up a large amount of state dollars- we get federal funding for the highways and Fire/Police services are paid for by the communities that they serve. Maybe we should give all the money to the hog farmers in Beaver county. If you think that teachers, state, and prison workers have it great I would invite you to become one.
My wife is a special-ed teacher and has been one for 22 years. There are many schools in the state that don't have enough paid school lunches to get funding from the state so therefore all the money that go to those schools our property taxes pay for. Certainly those schools get some money from the state but every year my wife spends well over $500 out of our family budget to help these special-ed children but I only get to deduct $250. per year from my taxes. Oklahoma has about 450 school districts, not over 500 and there have been many that have consolodated in the past. There is one county that has only one school in that county. Imagine an hour bus ride to school every day. I've done it when I was a kid and only lived 3 miles from school and I hated it. Teachers' salaries in Oklahoma are far below the regional average and most of our talented young teachers that are trained here head off to Texas or Kansas for greener pastures. Wouldn't you? My wife wouldn't be doing what she does if she didn't love it..
It may also be interesting to note that, according to the most recently posted information on the SDE website, there are 536 superintendents in the Oklahoma public school system. Also, as they are not paid through a central system (as regular state employeees are) it is not easy to determine what salary they may enjoy. I wonder how that number compares to other state school systems?
It may also be interesting to note that, according to the most recently posted information on the SDE website, there are 536 superintendents in the Oklahoma public school system. Also, as they are not paid through a central system (as regular state employeees are) it is not easy to determine what salary they may enjoy. I wonder how that number compares to other state school systems?
It may also be interesting to note that, according to the most recently posted information on the SDE website, there are 536 superintendents in the Oklahoma public school system. Also, as they are not paid through a central system (as regular state employeees are) it is not easy to determine what salary they may enjoy. I wonder how that number compares to other state school systems?
One more thing. Did anyone notice that the article begins by saying they need $37M in supplemental funding to ensure they get every penny they were promised, but the spokesperson says they are asking for $43.1M - an additional $6M? Just more proof that it's never enough.
David from Richardson, you don't let facts get in the way of your stories, do you? Nobody ever said the current gambling system was a cure-all. The voters of OK voted to allow class III gaming in certain venues AND negotiate the state getting to tax some of the Indian casino's revenues. It basically saved the horseracing/breeding operations in this state (which creates numerous jobs) and also gave ADDITIONAL funds that went to school coffers. Blame the legislators for underfunding schools because anything the schools get from the gambling taxes should be considered icing on the cake, not the cake itself. People are going to gamble and casinos are like any other businesses; eventually many of them will fail.
What does Sandy Garrett actually do besides collect a fat salary and beg for money? Seems that our educational systems have only deteriorated since she's been in office.
I agree with C from Choctaw. If all of those in administrative positions within the districts would take a 1-3% pay cut (change out of their pockets when compared to what they make), they would easily be able to make up for the deficit.
"Money,money, money"; "For the children's sake"; "We're shortchanging our children's future by not fully funding education". These among others are always catch phrases that the public education advocates always throw on a gullible public. Every year we need more money for education; yet, every year our test scores remain low or seldom rise; our dropout and illiteracy rates remain too high. I wonder why private schools pay teachers less; spend less dollars per pupil than public schools; and have in some cases a higher teacher/pupil ratio than public schools; yet, do well on test scores and prepare their students well for college? This proves that more money is not the answer.
Matt, in order to be promised, they must ask for it. The legistlators dont pull a number out of the sky - for Pete's sake, the OSDE tells them what they want and they get it. The OSDE has never heard no and they never will. Don't tell me you think for one nanosecond that they will not get this supplemental funding? Nice attempt at smoke and mirrors Matt, but they will get what they ask for. And BTW, I could bury you in research...especially the insane amount of overpaid administrators, the percentage of $ that actually makes it to the classroom, the percentage of OK students performing BELOW grade level, the % of ESL students who are passed through the ranks thanks to social promotion, the percentage of high school graduates who need remedial classes to make it in college....need I go on?
Matt, when I was growing up in Oklahoma in the 50's, 60's and 70's, it was like Bedford Falls .... Now, it's becoming Pottersville! I want Oklahoma 'to live again!'
Matt, how about something substantive! Oklahomans! Wake up. Your hard earned dollars are being stolen... businesses suffer, schools suffer, and ultimately, our children suffer! For ever $100 given to the lottery or a casino is $100 lost to economic growth ... and therefore, tax revenue.
Children are so valuable! If the $$$$ gambled away in all the Oklahoma casinos were spend on buying automobiles or living room furniture, imagine the economic growth of Oklahoma -- school revenue would flourish! STOP THE GAMBLING and put your $$$$ to work! For the children's sake!
It's not necessarily what educators ask for, but what they are promised. Schools are given half of the money early in the school year and the other half after the 1st of the year. Schools must budget money for the entire year. Let me ask you this suzanne, if your job told you they were going to pay you a certain amount, you made your family budget, and then they decided they weren't going to pay you what they promised, how would you deal with that? Now imagine being responsible for a large number of families and students. Maybe you should do some research before you become critical.
Oklahoma education is and always will be the giant sucking sound heard 'round the state. They will consistently ask for more and the legislature will give it gladly. What we fail to remember is if a legislator votes 'no', or questions the system at all the public's perception is they are against kids and teachers. <GASP> There isn't a legislator under the dome brave enough to risk being re-elected. I would say in addition to posting your thoughts on this website, your next step should be to call your state representative, but it wouldn't matter. They will ALWAYS give whatever educators ask for no matter what 'we the people' think.
Raymond, you are suggesting hiring someone to lead people, with no experience in the field? Before you start calling for schools to consolidate you may want to talk to your neighbors in these small communities. To call on people not to vote yes on the Ford Center tax because it is what the elite want, and then to turn around and call for these small communities to consolidate from your large suburban view is very hypocritical, don't you think?
Good comments from all, only Stoops isn't paid from "state" funds. The athletic programs at OU and OSU are self-supporting. Consolidation of districts would save a lot. Last year the legislature increased the retirement benefit for the highly paid administrators. The cost was great, but nobody complained then. Now those administrators want more money to pay for it. I believe management of the schools would be improved by removing the requirement that an administrator must have a teaching degree. That requirement limits many of the smaller districts choices for good management.
Here's how I see it. The more you give the more the receiver will spend. I may not be the smartest person but blaming the lottery is not fair. Can you imagine what the school system would be like with out funds from the lottery! If anything the lottery has helped so much. I want to know why do we need so many superintendents. These are high paying positions that needs to be realigned. Some of these small districts (communities/towns) could be combined with one superintendent. Fat needs to be trimmed at the top. We must get leaner and get rid of the waste. Stop blaming those who support the schools and look futher into the real problems.
How bout getting that extra money by taking a huge cut in pay Ms. Garrett. If all the Superintendents and she herself took a nice cut in pay the state schools would be better. Or better yet, see if Bob Stoops might forgo a few bucks. He's got it to blow thanks to higher education cost. This world is in a sorry state when sports are mosre important than an education. It is sickening the pay those peopel get and for what. OMG, they put OU, OSU on the map.
The "leaders" of Oklahoma said the Lottery would create this windfall of money for the schools. It obviously hasn't. Now the city "leaders" say this sales tax for the Ford Center will create all this economic opportunity. Please don't buy into the empty promises of the elite of OKC who just want you to subsidize their entertainment. And Glenn from MWC, I agree the schools need to consolidate many of the school systems, especially the rural systems and spend the money we put in to education more wisely.
The Oklahoma legislature wants to add one hour a week of physical education to the school year that’s 35 hours a year. They also want to add a week to the school year that’s 30 hours. So we will be paying 100 million dollars to reduce the time on academics by 5 hours. Now that’s a great may to spend our tax money.This is the kind of things going on that is hurting our education system . We need real reform not just more money and let's start with getting rid of the over 500 schools systems in this state.
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Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
The 1017 fund is down $37.5 million, the lottery is $4.5 million short, and the IRS changed a ruling, which costs school districts $1.5 million, that is where the large number comes from.
The local school gets their share of property tax directly from the Accessors. But until the construction is complete, and some one occupies the property they do not get the any increased value. Plus, Oklahoma has some of the lowest property tax in the country, so it is 30 to 40% of schools budget. The majority of the schools budget is tied to state revenue