© 2024 KOSU
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Oklahoma Supreme Court Hears Arguments About Penny Sales Tax Proposal

Emily Wendler / KOSU
University of Oklahoma's President David Boren speaks at the state capitol in October 2015, pitching his one-cent tax proposal.

The state Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday over the legality of a petition to fund education through a one-cent sales tax. The debate focuses on whether the petition should be broken down in to multiple subjects, or remain as one.

Attorneys for OCPA Impact, argued that the initiative petition would do four things:

  • raise sales taxes to some of the highest in the nation
  • give the executive branch new power
  • give teachers a $5,000 raise
  • fund other aspects of education

They said teacher pay raises are popular, but the other three things are not. So, they say, people should be able to vote on each one individually.
Amber England, a major supporter of the petition, says the general subject of the petition is improving education in Oklahoma, therefore it is filed correctly. She believes people support it.

"And so I believe that, when given the choice, Oklahomans will and have proven in the past, that they will invest in our children’s future."

There is no set time limit for the court to rule, but England anticipates that it will not be long.

Emily Wendler was KOSU's education reporter from 2015 to 2019.
KOSU is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.
Related Content