Legislature May Cut Funding for Education

The Oklahoma Legislature may have to cut funding toward education because of the slowing economy, a member of the appropriations and budget committee said.

Appropriations and Budget Committee Chairman Ken Miller (R-Edmond) said educational funding may get cut despite Democratic Gov. Brad Henry's promise that the funding for education, public safety, transportation and healthcare will remain untouched.

Miller said the legislature has a constitutional obligation to balance the state budget, and that takes precedence over educational funding.

"To say that those agencies are not going to get cut is a committment I can't make," Miller said.

Educational cuts may make Oklahoma universities anxious to raise tuition and fees, but because OU is enacting a tuition-lock policy, this likely will not affect OU as much as other universities.