State education funding could be caught
in the middle of the governor and the tribes’ dispute over gaming.
Gaming fees make up more than 5% of
public education funding. In fiscal year 2019, tribes paid more than $130
million into public education.
The first tribal fee payment since the
governor declared most gambling illegal on Jan. 1 is due next month.
If Gov. Kevin Stitt turns away
those funds that he said would have been obtained illegally, that could set up
a multi-million-dollar education budget hole.
“The Oklahoma Education Association
doesn’t have a position on the fight between the governor and the tribes,” OEA
President Alicia Priest said. “However, both sides affect public education
funding and our students are counting on them to come to an agreement.”
At a press conference on Thursday, Stitt
would not say if he will accept the payment next month, a move some say would
show he’s losing the battle.
“I’m not going to get into what I’m
going to strategy-wise on the specific fees, but I will protect teachers. I
will protect students,” he said.
"The tribes will continue to make
their exclusivity fee payments under the compact. There's no question or
confusion on our part," Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association chairman Matt
Morgan said.
In a statement to News 9, Stitt said in
part, “We are working on a plan to protect public education while this is
addressed in court. I will not allow teachers’ and students’ resources to be
unnecessarily disrupted by the tribes’ lawsuit.”
The governor responded to a federal lawsuit by the
state's most powerful tribes Wednesday and put the blame on the tribes for
refusing to engage in negotiations.
The tribes said negotiations aren't
necessary because the agreement automatically renews.
“What we would hope from this is that
the adults in the room could come to an agreement and could think of not only
the short-term but the long-term wins for all of Oklahomans,” Priest said.
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counseling centers industry.
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