Economists: State hurting own economic picture with school-strapping measures

Friday, February 11th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A team of economists says the state is hurting its own economic picture by putting restrictions on local school funding. In a 47-page report, Oklahoma 2000 Incorporated says many Oklahomans can't get a good public education because of spending constraints in the state's schools.

The report says the state would do well to get rid of the millage cap on schools and to lower its requirement that 60 per cent of voters approve school bond issues. Just this week, two Oklahoma City School District bond issues failed for the second time in eight months. Doctor Kent Olson is an Oklahoma State University economist. He also says the state needs to reexamine its tax structure, saying sales taxes may someday be less important because of untaxed Internet purchases.