Oklahoma State Questions on the Upcoming November Ballot

On November 2, 2010 there will be an election in which 11 Oklahoma state questions will be decided. When there are so many questions on a ballot, it can be difficult to remember the details of each question and how we feel about them. Today, we will discuss the first of the eleven Oklahoma state questions- SQ 744.

SQ 744: The measure repeals a Section of the State Constitution. The repealed section required the Legislature annually to spend $42.00 for each common school student.

Common schools offer pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.

The measure also adds a new Article to the Constitution. It sets a minimum average amount the State must annually spend on common schools. It requires the State to spend annually, no less than the average amount spent on each student by the surrounding states. Those surrounding states are Missouri, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado and New Mexico. When the average amount spent by surrounding states declines, Oklahoma must spend the amount it spent the year before.

The measure deals with money spent on day-to-day operations of the schools and school districts. This includes spending on instruction, support services and non-instruction services. The measure does not deal with money spent to pay debt, on buildings or on other capital needs.

The measure requires that increased spending begin in the first fiscal year after its passage. It requires that the surrounding state average be met in the third fiscal year after passage. The measure does not raise taxes, nor does it provide new funding for the new spending requirements.

This information taken from "Do You Have the Answers?" by Sid Sperry published in Oklahoma Living Magazine.

For more information about SQ 744 or any other question on November 2, 2010 ballot, visit the www.okpolicy.org website.

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