State Questions

[CHenry]

When did we get a 3% increase?

.3% so you wouldnt notice it. It was like $3 for my parents

 

[caojyn]

We need more puppy mills, yes on 777

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

When did we get a 3% increase?

It's a point 3% increase. That's a 30 cent increase for every $100.00 . $3.00 per thousand. It starts next year.

Woody

 

[sanjuro893]

something else on SQ779:
http://www.news9.com/story/33613858/lawmakers-influence-over-extra-money-from-sq-779

OKLAHOMA CITY -

It’s one of the more controversial measures on Tuesday’s ballot; a plan to raise the state sales tax by one penny to fund teacher raises.

The ballot measure would change the state constitution to ensure teachers receive at least $5,000 more than they make now. But the wording gives politicians a lot of say over how any left-over money will be spent.

The penny tax would raise at least $615-million per year for education funding. Here’s how it would break down:

• 19.25-percent would go to colleges
• 3.25-percent for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
• 8.00-percent for the State Department of Education
• 69.5-percent for common school districts.

It’s that 69.5-percent that we’re going to focus on.

According to the ballot question, 86.3-percent of that money will be used to fund a minimum of a five thousand dollar raise for teachers. Any left-over money can be used for bigger raises, or to “Otherwise address and prevent teacher and certified instructional staff shortages in the manner most suited to local district circumstances and needs.”

In other words, local school boards can decide how to use the money as long as they can justify that the use will help prevent teacher shortages.

"State Question 779 was designed with local control in mind because for years, politicians at 23rd and Lincoln have failed us,” said Amber England with Stand for Children.

But the way the measure is written, districts wouldn’t have to give teachers raises above that $5,000 regardless of how much revenue the new tax brings in over the years. The money could be used for other things, like books and professional development.

Senator Kyle Loveless (R) Oklahoma City said this is just a big shell game; providing a steady stream of income to schools and colleges under the guise of giving teachers a raise.

"To me this is this is the problem of using one thing that is very popular; giving teachers a pay raise, to fund something else,” said Loveless.

Loveless said if this was really about giving teachers a fair salary, 100-percent of the tax would go towards that.

"We could have done a third or a half or a quarter to fund a teacher pay raise if that's what we wanted to do.” Loveless said, “But the problem of it is they kind of log-rolled everything together and hopefully show everybody a teacher pay raise over here and pass something else that they don't expect over here."

England said, "If they're fighting this and they don't have a better plan they don't want teachers to get a pay raise."

 

[dennishoddy]

It's a point 3% increase. That's a 30 cent increase for every $100.00 . $3.00 per thousand. It starts next year.

Woody

I missed that pesky little decimal point in your first mention of it. Oops!

 

[Okie1907]

No on 779, Wed have the highest sales tax in the country. Sales tax hikes hurt the middle and lower class the most. Cannot support it. I love teachers but this would hurt them as well.

 

[Okie1907]

Our prisons are at 110% capacity. OK incarcerates more of its people than any state in the union. Prisons are a business for profit. I'd much rather a person caught with an oz of weed be sent to a rehab paid for with funds that are saved by not sending him to jail. I think I heard it cost $21,000 a year to house a prisoner. Lots of those caught with drugs are doing 5-10 years and sometimes more. Thats $105,000-$210,000 per person to house them for that term. You and I are paying for that.
My vote order will look like:
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes (this one I'm still on the fence about after reading some of this thread)

Im no way in favor of any tax hike for education. they lied to us to pass the gambling BS for education, and they will lie about how any added taxes will be handled.

You cant even drive on a highway without passing a private prison that is tucked away out of site in this state. We have too many.

 

[Okie1907]

We must have some how been raised in the same home?????????? lol, my response almost word for word.



I have multiple times over the years.

What question involves walmart greeters and searching bags?

 

[KOPBET]

You cant even drive on a highway without passing a private prison that is tucked away out of site in this state. We have too many.

Agreed. Six (only 4 used) is WAY too many.

 

[Okie1907]

Problem is you're just tipping the scales in the favor of Walmart. They would have no hourly restrictions on sales, whereas a liquor store would. They can also have anyone under 21 in their store, liquor store cannot. They will allow liquor stores to sell ancillary products but limit their total sales. Walmart and others.... nope.

The problem with this law is that it was bought and paid for by Walmart, Reasors, and QT.

Liquor stores still command the spirits though. The liquor stores should get together and fight the 9pm law and no one under 21 law but until then that is their problem to deal with. they have never been proactive in getting alcohol bills done cause they knew it would hurt them. Now the distribution stuff that is where this bill falls flat in my opinion.