Residents of Oklahoma City will soon be asked if they support raising their own income tax, in order to increase funding for city schools.
Oklahoma City Councilman Ed Shadid, along with other concerned community members, announced this morning they will soon circulate two initiative petitions.
Each petition will seek a 0.25% increase in the income tax rate. If the group gathers enough petition signatures, the measures will go to a vote of the people in a special election.
"We think that the people of Oklahoma City have a right to determine how much they want to invest in Oklahoma City Public Schools," says Shadid.
Shadid says the money will go towards increasing teacher pay, and lowering class sizes, and will be spread out across the 24 school districts within city limits. Oklahoma City Public Schools is the largest district in the area, and would receive the largest portion.
Shadid says initial polling shows the plan has strong support.
