Oklahoma voters could decide in November on whether to allow property taxes to fund school operations.
State Sen. Stephanie Bice has proposed a ballot measure to broaden what schools can use their building funds for.
"Why not allow them the opportunity to reward teachers that are doing an outstanding job? Why are we hamstringing districts because it may create an unfair advantage when we can give them some control back?" Bice said. "We can allow them to choose what makes sense for their community."
Opponents’ concerns run the gamut. Sen. Ron Sharp called a federal lawsuit for pay inequity inevitable.
"You would have one school district able to pay starting school teachers $54,000, whatever, another school district in a very low economic area only paying $31,600," Sharp said.
Sen. Marty Quinn was wary of the idea because of the popularity of passing bond issues that property taxes pay down.
"If you’re going to pass, for example, something toward teacher salaries, it cannot be short term. It can’t be a five-year bond measure like you see or a 10-year bond measure. The people of that particular school district need to know that that’s a long-term commitment," Quinn said.
A provision in the Oklahoma constitution allows property tax levies for schools to be made permanent in some cases.
Some lawmakers are also concerned allowing a vote to move forward would signal they've abdicated their responsibility for funding education.
If Bice’s proposal passes the legislature, it will be on the November ballot.
