Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

For Immediate Release: April 15, 2003

Audio Clip

Education Funding Bill Adds $80 Million
To Public School Appropriation for FY 2004

The State Senate Tuesday gave overwhelming approval to a preliminary common education appropriation measure that adds more than $80 million to the funds to be distributed to public schools in for the 2003-2004 school year, Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson said.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the State Senate approved the 2003-2004 appropriation for K-12 education by a 45 to 0 vote. House Bill 1160 includes the $1.950 billion for common education agreed to as part of the state budget deal reached by Senate and House leaders from both parties and Governor Henry last week. It further specifies that $1.525 billion of the total appropriation will go for Financial Support for Public Schools – $80.4 million more than the amount school districts will receive through the state aid formula in the current school year.

Other provisions of the common education appropriation for Fiscal Year 2004 will be worked out later as lawmakers tackle the task of writing a state budget in the face of a nearly $700 million revenue gap.

“We’re continuing our work to make education a budgeting priority in these extremely difficult financial times. Our public schools have had to make deep cuts this year due to a shortfall in state revenues. This measure not only stops the bleeding but it infuses more than $80 million into our classrooms,” Hobson said.

Also Tuesday, the Senate approved a reform measure setting April 1 as the deadline by which lawmakers will be required in future years to pass a common education appropriation bill.
Senate Appropriations Chair Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, said the intent of House Bill 1247was to ensure that school districts would know the level of their state funding for the coming school year before the April 10 deadline by which they must inform teachers whether or not their contracts will be renewed.

“We always say education is a priority. This legislation puts our money where our mouth is,” Morgan said.

For more information, contact:
Senate Communications Division - (405) 521-5605