Measures that would boost teacher salaries and pump more money into Oklahoma classrooms have been approved by a state House subcommittee.
Members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education approved the measures Tuesday while acknowledging they do not know how to pay for them. The Board of Equalization said Tuesday the state is facing a projected budget shortfall of $611 million next year due to low energy prices and the layoffs of oilfield workers.
The subcommittee voted 9-0 for a measure that would increase classroom funding by $600 million over 10 years. Board members also voted 9-0 for a bill supported by Superintendent of Schools Joy Hofmeister that would increase teacher pay by more than $5,000 over five years and add five more days to the public school calendar.
The subcommittee also voted 5-4 for legislation supporters say would increase sales and profits for the Oklahoma Lottery, sending it to the full Appropriations and Budget Committee for action. Similar bills have been defeated in the past.
The bill would eliminate the lottery's 35 percent minimum mandated profit requirement. Executive Director Rollo Redburn says that would allow it to increase prizes and eventually increase sales and profits.
Lottery proceeds are dedicated to public education and it has raised more than $600 million over the past decade. Lottery officials say the change would increase profits by $5 million next year and as much as $20 million within three years.
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