Weekly Wonk: A first look at FY26 revenue estimates | State, local media vital to Oklahoma’s success | Most read OK Policy articles from 2024 | Capitol Update

The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2024 Subscribe // View latest headlines OK Policy comments on revenue numbers estimated during December's Board of Equalization meeting:   The Board of Equalization on Friday certified an $8.225 billion estimate of funds for the governor's Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal. Given this is an early estimate, lawmakers should not view this as a green light to move forward with future revenue cuts in the form of poorly planned tax cuts. Instead, lawmakers should modernize existing tax credits that put money into the pockets of the Oklahomans who need it most, while also protecting vital state revenue. These targeted tax credits are the most fiscally responsible way for lawmakers to deliver tax relief to Oklahomans who need them. [Aanahita Ervin / OK Policy] OK Policy's Best of 2024   As 2024 comes to a close, we're proud to share some of OK Policy's most impactful publications of the year. From in-depth reports and thoughtful commentary to data-driven analysis, these highlights reflect our commitment to advancing policies that build a more prosperous, equitable Oklahoma. Explore the best of our work from 2024 and see how research, advocacy, and community voices are shaping our state's future. [OK Policy] Addressing the complex needs for mental health services for people held in state's custody (Capitol Update)   In an opinion piece in the Tulsa World last weekend, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler expressed concern about a request for proposal by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services seeking a private hospital vendor for 100 beds to move people who have already been tried and found not guilty by reason of insanity outside of the state-owned Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Policy Matters: State, local media vital to Oklahoma's success     Strong, independent local media is the heartbeat of our communities. They help connect us and hold the powerful accountable, whether it's at the city hall, school board, or local business level. When no one is watching, the temptation to cut corners — or worse — becomes too great. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] 36% - Percentage of Oklahomans who hold an associate degree or higher, compared to the national average of 48.4%. [U.S. Census Bureau via Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education]  $12.56 - The hourly mean wage for childcare workers in southeast Oklahoma's non-metropolitan areas. Childcare employees here reported an annual mean wage of $26,130. [Bureau of Labor Statistics] 22% - Between January 2020 and September 2024, the price of day care and preschool rose about 22%, according to national data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). [Pew Research] 3 - Number of Oklahoma counties — Harmon, Jefferson, and Roger Mills — that are considered news deserts because they don't have a news outlet serving their community. Seven other counties — Choctaw, Coal, Cotton, Haskell, Hughes, Okfuskee, and Tillman — were identified as being at risk for losing their county's sole local news source. [Local News Initiative / Northwestern University] $200 million - The amount of taxpayer dollars slated to be used in 2025 for families to claim tax credits for private school tuition. That amount is scheduled to increase to $250 million in 2026. [House Bill 1934]  From OK Policy: Private school tax credits will give everyone's taxes to people who don't need our help "It's, again, politics ahead of setting good policy. The superintendent is trying to play politics with kids."   - State Sen. Michael Brooks of Oklahoma City said responding to the State Department of Education request for reports related to the number of undocumented students within school districts. [The Oklahoman] Board of Equalization   The State Board of Equalization was established in 1907 by the Oklahoma Constitution. The seven-member Board is composed of six statewide elected officials – the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Superintendent of Instruction, and State Auditor – plus the Secretary of Agriculture.   A primary responsibility of the Board is to provide an official estimate of how much revenue will be available for the Oklahoma Legislature to spend for the coming year.  Three times a year, in December, February and June, the Board meets to certify revenue estimates for the upcoming budget year. Estimates are prepared by the Oklahoma Tax Commission and other agencies.   The Board is also responsible for assessing taxable property values for entities such as public service companies, railroads, and airlines. Each Oklahoma county has its own Board of Equalization that settles disagreements between county assessors and property owners about the taxable value of property.   Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. Opinion: An Oklahoma doctor's legislative wish list to improve health care outcomes for patients, providers   Every December brings new opportunities to make lists, whether they're for gifts, holiday cards or resolutions for the new year.   For physicians like me, however, there's also the ever-present policy wish list filled with ways to improve patient care and cut through the red tape that limits our capacity to help more Oklahomans.   As we approach a new year — and a new legislative session — it's imperative to explore how legislators have the power to improve health care in 2025 and beyond.   [Read the full op-ed from Edgar Morris Boyd on Oklahoma Voice's webpage] How Local Governments Raise Revenue — and What it Means for Tax Equity: The tens of thousands of local governments across the United States are frontline providers of the essential services that create thriving communities. Well-structured local tax policies support and strengthen this goal, facilitating important investments while advancing fairness and opportunity. This resource offers detailed information on how localities raise tax revenue across the U.S., shedding light on the equity and adequacy of these measures at a critical moment for local leaders and the people they serve. [Institute on Economic Policy and Taxation] Child Care Centers That Pay Their Teachers More Are Less Likely to Have Staffing Challenges: Many child care providers struggle to hire and retain staff, which can limit families' access to care. However, most states do not have data about child care staffing and enrollment on a large scale, which can limit their ability to understand and address challenges faced by providers and families. To ensure that families can access child care, federal and state policymakers could establish more reliable funding streams that allow providers to increase teacher pay, keep teachers, and remain financially stable. Without this support, centers with more limited finances and low teacher pay are more likely to lose teachers and turn families away. [Urban Institute] 2024 Must-Reads: 9 Stories About Early Care and Education That We Can't Stop Thinking About: Child care funding, the cost and quality of care, and working conditions and pay for early educators, were among the year's top themes. We want to celebrate and honor the powerful stories that have shaped important conversations around our nation's youngest children and the families, caregivers, and early educators who support them. [The 74] The State of Local News 2024: Expanding Deserts, Shifts in Ownership, and Expanded Digital Coverage: The loss of local newspapers is continuing at an alarming pace, deepening the local news crisis and further depriving people of information they need to make informed decisions. Local news deserts are spreading. A furious pace of mergers and acquisitions is underway, as many longtime newspaper owners bail, and regional chains capitalize on opportunities. Meanwhile, the number of standalone digital local news sites has continued to grow. [Local News Initiative / Northwestern University] How vouchers harm public schools: Voucher programs for schools are rapidly expanding across the country. Under these programs, public budgets provide funding to parents to either send their children to private school or homeschool them. These programs' growing popularity raises the question of whether letting public money leave the public school system and subsidize private forms of schooling is a way to improve children's access to an excellent education. EPI's analysis shows that vouchers harm public schools. [Economic Policy Institute] Support Our Work with a Donation What's up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org   Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

In The Know: Canoo closes local facilities, furloughs employees | OSDE unveils new social study standards with Biblical emphasis | Gov. ends telework options for state employees

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024 Subscribe // View latest headlines Join Our Team as a Regional Organizer, Southwest Region   OK Policy is hiring for a Regional Organizer supports OK Policy in the development and implementation of virtual and community-based advocacy actions that further policy goals. This position works as part of OK Policy's grassroots advocacy arm Together Oklahoma (TOK) to engage communities and affinity groups. Apply by Jan. 5. [Learn more and apply] $200 million   The amount of taxpayer dollars slated to be used in 2025 for families to claim tax credits for private school tuition. That amount is scheduled to increase to $250 million in 2026. [House Bill 1934]  How vouchers harm public schools   Voucher programs for schools are rapidly expanding across the country. Under these programs, public budgets provide funding to parents to either send their children to private school or homeschool them. These programs' growing popularity raises the question of whether letting public money leave the public school system and subsidize private forms of schooling is a way to improve children's access to an excellent education. EPI's analysis shows that vouchers harm public schools. [Economic Policy Institute] "Most of these people, all they did was get Oklahoma addresses and turn them in and say they moved, but they never did. A lot of the engineers, some of the directors, things like that, they would just travel here every couple of weeks, spend a week here, go home for a week, and come back."   -A former Canoo employee, speaking about the company's September announcement that it would relocate 140 of its highly paid engineers from Torrance, California, to Oklahoma. The company, which received millions in taxpayer dollars, announced this week that it closed its Oklahoma facilities and furloughed all its local employees. [KFOR] State Government News   Canoo could be required to repay Oklahoma incentive money: Electric vehicle maker Canoo Inc. could be required to repay $1 million in Oklahoma job creation incentives after closing factories in the state. [The Frontier] Former employee: Canoo never built vehicles in Oklahoma, most employees never moved to Oklahoma [KFOR] Former employee with Canoo prior to Oklahoma relocation says state leaders missed signs company was bad investment [KFOR] Electric vehicle company Canoo furloughs 82 employees and pauses operations in Oklahoma City [KGOU] Stitt Ends State Employee Telework Options: After pushing remote work before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt now wants state employees to come back to the office full time in early 2025.  [Oklahoma Watch] Oklahoma Gov. Stitt issues order requiring state employees to return to the office in 2025 [The Oklahoman] 'It's not right': State employee reacts to Gov. Stitt's new executive order [KFOR] Stitt's renewable energy move draws Republican backlash: A recent action by Gov. Kevin Stitt to bring a renewable energy collaboration to Oklahoma has drawn criticism from Oklahoma Republican leaders. [The Black Wall Street Times]   From business in Oklahoma to the grocery tax cut, Governor Kevin Stitt is sharing his response to some key issues in our state, and how he plans to address them moving forward: From business in Oklahoma to the grocery tax cut, Governor Kevin Stitt is sharing his response to some key issues in our state, and how he plans to address them moving forward. [Fox 25]   Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman report budget issues amid grocery sales tax cut confusion: City officials are reporting there is confusion about how to properly implement the state's new grocery tax exemption. It only has to do with state taxes on groceries, not local municipalities. [Fox 25] From OK Policy: Will Oklahomans still pay sales tax on groceries? Oklahoma senators to refile bill to limit virtual school days: An Oklahoma Senate bill that would curtail school districts' use of virtual instruction days is expected to make a comeback in the 2025 Legislative Session. [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma officials break ground on Capitol arch project: State officials broke ground Thursday on a project to build an arch and amphitheater on the south side of the Capitol complex. The project, which lawmakers set $4.3 million aside for, is expected to be complete within two years of construction beginning. [Oklahoma Voice] Arch project starts at Capitol with $4.3M price tag [The Journal Record] Opinion: District court judge made right decision to protect free markets: Oklahoma appears to be taking a page out of the California playbook — just from the opposite side. In both cases, each state is injecting unnecessary regulatory burdens into business and financial operations based on partisan politics. [John Wittman / The Oklahoman]   Opinion: Dear Santa: Oklahoma is grateful for what we have. Here's our new wish list: Dear Santa: We've been good this year. Well, mostly. Collectively, we've been good. If you made a naughty or nice list of everyone in our city and state, the "nice" list would be longer. We think. [Russ Florence / The Oklahoman]   Editorial: Relatively new drone technology questions need faster government response: As New Jersey residents take issue with the uptick in nighttime illuminations, Oklahoma continues to work toward becoming a U.S. drone hub. That's why we appreciate Gov. Kevin Stitt's response to the national news stories about the possible increase of drones in the Garden State. He acknowledges drone technology as an "exciting new industry" in Oklahoma but also calls on the Department of Public Safety to procure detection systems. [Editorial / Tulsa World]   Federal Government News   States to lose out on billions if GOP spurns disaster aid in spending bill, Dems say: U.S. House Democrats released details early Thursday on how much federal disaster aid each state would lose if Republicans drop it from a stopgap spending bill that's been rejected by their own members as well as President-elect Donald Trump. [Oklahoma Voice]   Black Wall Street National Monument bill passes U.S. Senate: With just days left before the end of the Congressional session, U.S. Senators on Wednesday passed the bill to establish Black Wall Street as a national monument in Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District. [The Black Wall Street Times]   Tribal Nations News   Federal court orders energy company to remove wind farm on Osage land: After a 10-year court battle, a federal judge has ordered the removal of a wind farm on Osage land. The judge also awarded the Osage Mineral Council more than $300,000 in damages. [KOSU] Judge orders Enel to remove Osage County wind farm, pay damages [Tulsa World] Muscogee Nation, Tulsa weigh potential settlement in federal lawsuit: The federal lawsuit, Muscogee Creek Nation v. City of Tulsa, was filed in November and stems from a traffic ticket issued by the city to a Muscogee citizen. [KOSU] Tulsa, Muscogee Nation federal case in 'active settlement discussions' [Public Radio Tulsa] Education News   As Walters touts new standards, board tackles dozens of certificate suspensions, revocations: With Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters announcing sweeping new plans for 2025 administrative rule changes and proposed amendments to social studies standards, the State Board of Education met Thursday and took action on two months' worth of teaching certification agenda items. [NonDoc] Revisions to Oklahoma's social studies standards include increase in Christianity content [KOSU] Bible, Christianity feature heavily in proposed social studies standards for students [Tulsa World] Ryan Walters announces proposed new social studies standards after promised 'overhaul' [The Oklahoman] Walters reveals new pro-Bible standards for history classes [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma education department releases controversial K-12 social studies standards [Fox 25] Faith leaders worry OSDE's proposed social studies standards are part of an agenda [KFOR] Lawmakers access ed board executive session, Walters comments on immigrant student count proposal [KGOU] After months of stalemate, legislators allowed into education board's executive session [The Oklahoman] Shawnee superintendent's teaching license suspended by Oklahoma State Board of Education [The Oklahoman] Four northeastern Oklahoma educators' teaching certificates suspended [Tulsa World] Ryan Walters shares list of proposed rules in public schools for Oklahoma State Education Board (video) [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma State Board of Education punts on student transfer appeals: After more than an hour in executive session, the Oklahoma State Board of Education declined to take any action Thursday afternoon on four denied transfer appeals involving Tulsa area school districts. [Tulsa World]   Cleveland County judge questions attorneys, examines briefs and evidence in pronoun case: he district judge presiding over a lawsuit between a Moore family, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma State Board of Education spent almost two hours Thursday afternoon questioning attorneys on both sides of the case during a hearing at the Cleveland County Courthouse. [The Oklahoman]   Why It's Hard to Control What Gets Taught in Public Schools: Oklahoma and Texas are among more than 20 states that have passed laws since 2021 seeking to control how race, gender and American history are discussed in schools. But in a climate of extraordinary political scrutiny on the curriculum, many teachers say those efforts have little influence on how they run their classrooms. [New York Times]   University of Tulsa unveils Oklahoma's first cyber range: The University of Tulsa's Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute announced the launch of a cyber range that will rapidly expand services to protect and defend Oklahoma entities from cyber threats. TU is the first institution in the state to offer a fully functional cyber range to outside organizations. [The Journal Record]   Health News   Community Care promotes revolutionary healing in Melanated communities: Since the start of colonization, African Americans and Native Americans have endured ongoing grief and violence leading to intergenerational trauma and social inequities that persist today. This includes land dispossession, enslavement, human trafficking, forced assimilation, and much more, emphasizing the need for community care. [The Black Wall Street Times]   Criminal Justice News   Oklahoma carries out last execution of 2024: Oklahoma carried out its fourth execution of 2024 on Thursday with the death of Kevin Ray Underwood on his 45th birthday. [The Frontier]   Longtime Cleveland County DA Greg Mashburn to retire in 2025: Longtime Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn has announced he will retire. After 18 years as the top prosecutor for Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties, Mashburn will leave office on March 1, 2025. [The Oklahoman]   City of Tulsa, community partners receive $2 million grant to combat violent crime: Violent crime doesn't happen in a vacuum. Nothing in life does. That truth is at the heart of the city's new Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, an effort to use mentoring and other strategies to reduce violent crime. [Tulsa World]   Economy & Business News   Amazon workers strike: Will Christmas packages be delayed in Oklahoma? What to know: Amazon employees are participating in the "largest strike" against the company in its history, just six days before Christmas. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union holding the strike representing 7,000 of the company's employees nationwide, suggested Christmas gifts shipped during this time may be late. [The Oklahoman]   Chamber report highlights OKC's economic growth: Business growth in Oklahoma City this year reflects the confidence found in the latest report from the National Federation of Independent Business. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose by eight points to 101.7, after 34 months of remaining below the 50-year average of 98. [The Journal Record]   Americans with disabilities work remotely more than the general population in these states: The national adoption of remote work spurred by the pandemic has been touted for opening accessibility opportunities to the larger labor force. And yet, workers with disabilities have varied access to it throughout the country. [Tulsa World]   Community News   'This is not a distant news item': Gaza trauma hangs heavy for Oklahomans: While the violence in the Gaza Strip might seem half a world away, its impact extends far beyond the Middle East — even to doorsteps in Oklahoma. [NonDoc]   'Focus: Black Oklahoma': Monroe Nichols, medical gaslighting, Black rodeo culture (audio): This episode of Focus: Black Oklahoma features stories on the swearing in of Tulsa mayor Monroe Nichols, how 'medical gaslighting' affects patients, a discussion on Black rodeo culture and more. [KOSU]   Local Headlines  Edmond mayoral debate scheduled for Jan. 22 at UCO [NonDoc] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Support Our Work with a Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.