Advocates of teacher pay raises turn in signatures

Advocates of a proposal for a temporary citywide income tax to raise money for teacher pay increases said Thursday they had collected more than enough signatures to call a vote.

Petitions were turned in to the Oklahoma City Clerk's office Thursday afternoon. A team of 10 including Ward 5 Councilman David Greenwell, in his role as vice mayor, began the initial review.

Signatures were to be counted and checked against voter rolls beginning next week. The count and verification of signatures is to be completed by 5 p.m. Nov. 27.

A coalition of education advocates began their initiative petition drive in August, responding to the Legislature's inability to fund raises for public school teachers.

The Legislature again fell short of votes this week on a budget proposal that included teacher raises.

A coalition leader, Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid, said organizers turned in more than 16,000 signatures, beating a 90-day deadline for the petition drive.

City Clerk Frances Kersey said the organizers need 11,991 valid signatures to set in motion the process of having the city council call an election.

The proposal calls for a 0.5 percent income tax to raise about $50 million per year.

The tax would sunset after four years. Individuals and families living near or below the poverty line would be exempt.

The measure calls for grants to be awarded by the city of Oklahoma City to school districts.

Proceeds could be used only for annual stipends for teachers, school nurses and support personnel.

This initiative petition is the 37th in the city's 125-plus-year history, Kersey said.