Schools look to ‘get back in the game’ with new county sales tax
SHAWNEE — Following a shortfall that hit Oklahoma schools with midyear budget reductions this year, and ahead of another anticipated budget hole next year, 14 school systems in Pottawatomie County are receiving a valuable boost in funding following a local sales tax increase approved by voters in 2015.
County voters approved a 10-year, .495-cent sales tax last year that is expected to raise $3.8 million annually for schools across the county, divided according to school enrollment figures. The tax also will fund a youth justice center.
“This is really going to be significant for our school district,” said Tom Wilsie, superintendent of Tecumseh Public Schools, which has already received more than $165,000 in new funds. “We have put off purchasing new school buses for several years now, but now we are planning to purchase two school buses.”
Wilsie said plans also are underway to invest in technology, replace a roof and update heating and cooling systems.
“Those are the kinds of things schools have had to delay over the last several years because of the budget,” hesaid.
Collection of the new sales tax revenue began in July and schools have received three months of disbursements through the county government, which holds onto the funds until districts identify a purchase and submit an order.
“I feel like it’s going to help us get back in the game with facility maintenance and upkeep,” said April Grace, superintendent of Shawnee schools.
Officials in several school districts in Pottawatomie County told The Oklahoman they plan to use the sales tax money to leverage bond projects already underway. Most districts are planning capital projects using the new funds.
The sales tax increase was approved by over 60 percent of county voters and came one year before the defeat of a statewide vote on a sales tax increase for teacher salaries and other education projects.
Pottawatomie County voters went along with the state in defeating State Question 779 in November, a vote that educators across the state said was somewhat demoralizing during a time of budget cuts, low salary as compared to neighboring states and a rapid rise in the number of emergency teaching certificates being issued by the state.
Grace, who is in her first year as superintendent in Shawnee, said she believed last year’s successful county vote was a boost for teachers and school staff.
“I don’t know if you want to call it a moral victory, but I do think it made people feel good,” Grace said. “It at least said to the schools that ‘we are all in this together.’”
A similar education sales tax increase was approved in Carter County four years ago, and cities like Enid and Lawton have also passed sales tax increases for school projects.
As the largest district in the county, Shawnee projects to collect close to $1.2 million annually. Wanette Public Schools, the county’s smallest school system, would receive around $58,000.
Wilsie said the sales tax won’t make up for recent budget cuts or the loss in funding since 2008, which he estimates is close to $1 million in Tecumseh. But he said “every dollar counts right now.”
“We are in a better position with this funding than we were without it.”