Will governor’s orders force school, college consolidation?
Gov. Mary Fallin signed executive orders Tuesday that could force consolidation of some K-12 public school and university administrations.
She also signed an order that limits agencies from spending a total of $10 million per year on promotional items that aren’t part of their core missions. Her cost-cutting move, just days after vetoing most of the Legislature’s special session budget bill, could end up swaying some of the more conservative lawmakers who opposed raising revenue.
Fallin also said she would announce next week when the next special session will begin.
The public school administration consolidation order is similar to legislation that didn’t pass during special session. It directs the State Board of Education to compile a list of every district that spends less than 60 percent of its budget on instructional expenditures.
Schools on that list would then voluntarily plan for consolidation or annexation. If they do not, the state can intervene. The order doesn’t force entire districts to consolidate. Rather, it considers administrative services like superintendent duties, budgeting, maintenance and equipment, bonding and other responsibilities.
One of the core complaints about raising revenue that conservative Republicans had during special session was the idea that agencies were getting too much money already. The executive orders could be seen as an olive branch and leave those lawmakers with fewer reasons to vote no.
"I hope so," Fallin said when asked if revenue bills could get more votes now. "For all those that say they want more efficiencies, more effectiveness, eliminate waste, I hope so. But it's the right thing to do no matter what."
Rose State College political science professor James Davenport wrote on Twitter that Fallin's executive orders take away lawmakers' efficiency arguments.
"Putting more pressure on them to come up with recurring revenues. Pretty bold move," Davenport wrote.
Her order for university administrative consolidation contains fewer details but relies on the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to develop and present a plan by December 2018.
The order limited so-called "swag" and requires agencies to ask for permission before making purchases for promotional items.
Fallin said in a news conference Tuesday that she line-item vetoed most of the budget bill after hearing from lawmakers in debate who grudgingly said they would vote for it. Many of those who voted to pass the bill talked about how much they didn't like their decision.
She said members of the public have voiced their support since her veto. By calling another special session, Fallin said she hopes lawmakers will raise enough revenue to fill the remaining $110 million gap in this year's budget and an expected $678 million that next year's budget will be short.
"We can't afford to continue having another full year of arguments, especially in an election year," she said. "We can't suffer another year of getting this bad image of the state of being unstable, not solving its problems."