A plan to increase the state sales tax by a penny to raise money for education is not being looked on favorably by Senator Roger Thompson.
OU president David Boren said the extra penny tax is needed to help fund state teacher salaries.
Friday he announced the formation of "Oklahoma's Children - Our Future," a group that would be collecting voter signatures to call for a measure on the November 2016 ballot to increase the tax.
"I am very concerned about the funding for education," said Thompson (R-Okemah). After being contacted by Thehenryettan.com about the issue, he points out he is working with district superintendents throughout district 8 to obtain all of their financials on every expenditure. We must have accurate information before moving forward in helping to solve this problem."
Thompson he has not had a chance to study Boren's plan in depth but, "at first glance, I am not for this increase."
He says the additional sales tax would have a negative effect on retail businesses in rural Oklahoma. "If passed, it would also seriously limit the ability of small towns to add any additional sales tax for local needs if they so desired," he added.
Thompson said other options should be pursued including using funds already allocated responsibly.
Boren, a democrat, took a slap at legislators saying they were reluctant to add new revenue sources even though the state is saving a nearly $1 billion shortfall this year.
"It is imperative we, the people of Oklahoma take action ourselves.
Currently, Oklahoma has one of the highest combined average (8.77 percent) local and state sales tax rates in the country. That puts the state sixth highest in the nation.