Oklahoma Governor Pitches Teacher Pay Raise Amid $1 Billion Budget Hole

Abstract

Amid a $1 billion budget shortfall due to the collapse of the oil industry and a simultaneous (and badly timed) teacher-shortage, Oklahoma Republican Gov. Mary Fallin proposed Monday the state give teachers a $3,000 pay raise next year. The move, which she detailed in her annual State of the State speech, would cost the state $178 million. In exchange, she's asking lawmakers to merge several districts and give superintendents more flexibility in how they spend their money.