As part of our continuing coverage of this year's state questions, we take a look at SQ 779.
Heavily pushed and promoted by OU President David Boren, SQ 779 will increase our state sales tax by a whopping 22%, and as a result, give each public school teacher a $5,000 per year raise so they can buy more school supplies for their classrooms.
Here's the gist via The Oklahoma Policy Institute:
SQ 779 is a constitutional amendment that would raise the state sales and use tax by one percentage point. Of the total revenue generated by the new tax, 60 percent would go to providing a salary increase of at least $5,000 for every public school teacher. The remaining funds would be divided between public schools (9.5 percent), higher education (19.25 percent), career and technology education (3.25 percent), and early childhood education (8 percent). The State Board of Equalization would be required to certify that revenues from the new tax are not being used to supplant existing funds.
That's neat. I think we can agree that all teachers, including the lady who showed up to school without any pants, deserve a pay raise. Here are 7 reasons to vote "Yes" for State Question 779.