The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Local news

September 24, 2009

NEW: Testimony resumes on education plan

OKLAHOMA CITY — Testimony is scheduled to resume before a legislative panel that is studying the impact of a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a dramatic increase in spending for public schools.

The directors of several state agencies, including the departments of transportation, corrections, public safety and human services, are scheduled to testify on Thursday.

The Helping Oklahoma Public Education, or HOPE, initiative petition would force the state to spend an extra $850 million on public schools over a three-year period to meet the regional average of per-student spending.

A statewide vote is scheduled for November 2010 after supporters collected enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

Lawmakers say they believe tax hikes and budget cuts to other state agencies are likely if voters pass the measure.

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