By a 2-to-1 Ratio, Okla. Voters Reject Proposal To Revamp School Funding

By Millicent Lawton

Educators in Oklahoma breathed a sigh of relief last week after voters soundly defeated a ballot proposal that would have changed local school funding significantly.

Though many observers had predicted a close vote, State Question 669, which appeared on the March 12 ballot, lost in all 77 counties. With heavy voter turnout for the Super Tuesday presidential primary, the measure was defeated statewide by a ratio of 2-to-1: 463,064 voted no and 226,860 said yes, according to complete but unofficial results from the state election board.

The proposal would have rolled back local property-tax rates to 1993 levels and limited to 3 percent any increase in those taxes that could be approved by local voters. In addition, a countywide tax increase would have required the approval of at least 60 percent of the qualified electors. (See Education...