Senate Approves $976.4 Million Funding Bill for Higher Education

Measure Includes Additional $87 Million Investment in Colleges

(Oklahoma City) State Senators Wednesday approved a $976.4 million appropriation measure for Higher Education on Wednesday. The measure includes $87 million in new funding for Oklahoma’s colleges and universities.

“Higher education is one of the most dynamic engines of economic development in our state. This investment in our colleges and universities will pay tremendous dividends in Oklahoma’s future,” said Senator Stratton Taylor, chairman of the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Education. “Oklahoma will never go broke educating its people. Our state will prosper by sending out the message that we are going to invest in higher education.”

The Senate-amended House Bill 2177 passed on a 37-10 bi-partisan vote.

The $87 million increase in Higher Education funding included in the Senate-amended version of House Bill 2177 includes $56.5 million for institutional needs and student assistance programs. It also includes $18 million in additional lottery funds to annualize the debt service on the 2005 Higher Education Bond Issue; $10 million in additional lottery funds for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; and a $2.5 million increase for the concurrent enrollment program that allows high school students to get a head start on their college education

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said lawmakers are faced with a choice this session.

“With nearly $1 billion in new money we can either make significant investments in Oklahoma’s future like providing $87 million in additional funding for Higher Education, or we can give it all away in the form of tax cuts that favor the wealthy,” Senate President Pro Tempore Morgan said.

“Our position in the Senate is clear. We must look beyond the next election and focus on the next generation. We cannot get bogged down in attempting to one-up each other with proposals that political consultants say will play well at the polls. We must do the responsible thing and make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in the future of Oklahoma.”

Last month the Senate passed a public schools appropriation with a record $204.3 million in new funding. Morgan said he anticipates consideration of a measure increasing funding for CareerTech to come to the Senate floor soon.