Education Organizations File Brief In Support Of Oklahoma Sales Tax Proposal

Three education groups filed a brief in support of the proposed penny sales tax increase for public education.

The Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration, Oklahoma State School Boards Association and the Oklahoma Education Association filed the brief with the Oklahoma Supreme Court Friday.

In a news release the organizations said they believe the proposal is constitutional and that Oklahomans should have the opportunity to vote on it.

The groups says Oklahoma’s teacher shortage has created a crisis for students, leaving them in larger class sizes and with fewer course options. They say the sales tax would allow a $5,000 raise for every Oklahoma teacher.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett and the Oklahoma Municipal League filed a brief on Monday arguing against the proposed 1-cent sales tax for education in Oklahoma.

In October, a group called “Oklahoma’s Children, Our Future” began an initiative to raise $615 million for education through a statewide penny sales tax increase. OU President David Boren is the highest-profile supporter of the tax increase.

The OCPA Impact, part of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, filed a challenge to the initiative with the Oklahoma Supreme Court on November 12, 2015, arguing the initiative violates Oklahoma's rule that requires only one subject per petition.

On December 7, 2015, Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett and the Oklahoma Municipal League filed a brief against the tax increase.

12/8/2015: Related Story: Tulsa Mayor Files Brief Against 1-Cent Sales Tax For Education

Bartlett and the OML argue that raising the state's sales tax would hurt cities and towns across Oklahoma who rely on their own sales taxes to fund their operations.

The Oklahoma State Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case on December 16, 2015.