Gov. Mary Fallin’s Democratic challenger wants to boost per-pupil spending on education by $50 by using the state’s franchise tax as a funding source.
"This will be set aside and earmarked completely for classroom funding," state Rep. Joe Dorman said Thursday at a news conference. "This will not go to salaries. It will not go to administrative costs. It will go to the tools needed by educators to educate those students to the level where they can achieve their highest potential."
There was a moratorium on franchise tax collections from 2010 to 2013. ?
Dedicated funding through franchise tax revenue is one part of Dorman’s “Classrooms First” plan. He said if businesses have skin in the game, then meeting a big need other officials, such as the secretary of state, have identified will be more likely.
"Chris Benge himself stated that as he has gone around [and] visited with businesses, they feel the top priority is to make sure that we have a well-educated workforce," Dorman said.
Dorman’s plan also caps education spending cuts at the percentage the entire state budget has fallen and would allow local boards a greater say in how their funds are spent.
