Fallin Says No Special Session For Teacher Pay Alternative

No special session of the Oklahoma Legislature will be held after Gov. Mary Fallin was unable to reach agreement with lawmakers on a plan for a teacher pay raise and the redistribution of $140 million in surplus revenue to targeted agencies.

Fallin met Thursday with Republican leaders in the House and Senate to discuss a possible session. She wanted lawmakers to consider an alternative to a state question in November calling for a 1 percent sales tax increase for public education that includes a $5,000 teacher pay raise. She also wanted lawmakers to consider distributing the $140 million to specific agencies.

But Fallin spokesman Michael McNutt confirmed late Thursday the governor and lawmakers couldn't reach a consensus. He released the following statement:

“The governor and legislative leaders met today to discuss their commitment to an alternative teacher pay raise rather than the Boren tax increase, which has been reported that it would give Oklahoma the highest sales tax in the nation. With so many legislators terming out and a large number of new legislators who will be elected and sworn into office in mid-November, it was decided to continue to develop a teacher pay raise plan with reform that will be introduced at the beginning of the next legislative session.

“Legislative leaders want the $140.8 million initially cut from agencies in the 2016 fiscal year and now available again returned equally to agencies. The governor asked legislative leaders to priority-base the distribution of those funds so pressing needs at agencies like the Department of Education, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Corrections, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services could be more fully addressed, but a consensus to do so could not be reached. The funds will instead be sent to agencies with September general revenue allocations.”