State House passes $5.77 billion general appropriations measure

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Public school teachers and state employees would get raises as part of a $5.77-billion state appropriations bill approved by the state House Wednesday.<br/><br/>The bill includes

Wednesday, March 16th 2005, 4:44 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Public school teachers and state employees would get raises as part of a $5.77-billion state appropriations bill approved by the state House Wednesday.

The bill includes the first stage of Governor Brad Henry's four-year plan to raise teacher salaries to the regional average and money to pay for teachers' health insurance premiums.

The state's 34,000 employees would get an average raise of about 4 percent.

The bill also provides about $878-million for health and social services, $626-million for public safety and the courts and $424-million for general government and transportation.