A proposed 1 percent sales tax increase to fund public education and teacher pay raises is among three state questions on the November ballot thanks to the initiative-petition process.
Oklahoma's average teacher salary in the 2014-2015 school year was $45,317, which ranks 48th among the 50 states and District of Columbia.
The other two questions are aimed at slowing the state's explosive prison growth. State Question 780 will reduce criminal penalties for drug possession and low-level property crimes and State Question 781 will invest any savings from that proposal into community programs for substance abuse and mental health treatment.
The other four ballot questions came from the Legislature. They address alcohol sales, farming and ranching restrictions, the death penalty and the use of public funds for religious purposes.