I am a reluctant vote yes. I don’t like sales tax, it’s regressive and hurts poor people. I would rather income tax and property tax pay for schools.
That said, I have a child in school right now, my son is a sophomore and things are really bad right now. I want schools to improve for him before he graduates and I really don’t see any changes in the near future here without this tax. Republicans have pushed this state to the brink over the last 10 years and still the public laps up their rhetoric. The very poor people that this tax will hurt are mostly Trump voters.
99% of Trump bumper stickers are on aging beater cars and pickups with dents and a couple of different paint colors. I’ve seen exactly one Trump sticker on a nice car, a new Audi on Sunday with the larger “Proud Deplorable” sticker larger than the Trump sticker, so you know right where his head is.
I know that over time the legislature will steal these funds and fund even more tax breaks for the rich. I’m certainly not rich but I do ok and those very tax breaks will mean more money in my pocket than those sales taxes will take.
So selfishly, I will vote yes, for my son mostly and as an added benefit I get a slightly lower taxes. And I get to stick it to dumb Trump voters. I guess in this case it’s a win/win/win.
Sadly, the sales tax wouldn't kick in fast enough to help your kid no matter what. And since for every $100 million in revenue the sales tax brings in the legislature is going to divert $110 million from general fund education moneys to something else, this is gonna actually make the situation worse. Just based on past experience for the last 40 to 50 years or so.
And no, it won't - tax breaks give you more money than sales tax. You would need to make a million a year to come out on that deal. The cut is 1/4%. And doesn't affect you except for all annual income above about $55,000. So if you make $100,000 a year, that extra 1/4% on $45,000 is saving you a couple hundred bucks. Or about $20,000 in retail spending equivalent. Well, if ya don't spend more than about $20k a year retail, you will be good.... I want to pay that extra 1/4%, and I want Toby Keith to have to pay it too!! He certainly gets a whole lot more back from all the lower income people in this state who buy his pitiful excuse for entertainment...!!
The sales tax is 1% - on everything you buy!!
You will have to move to Missouri or Arkansas to help him. And if you move the family to Joplin area or Fayetteville, you can come back and stay in Tulsa area during the week and go home on weekends to see the family. It's only about 2 1/2 years...anyone can handle that!! If ya care about your kids enough....
Get a decent used travel trailer and just put it in an RV park and rent by the month. Excellent solution. At the end of the 2 1/2 year sentence, you can move the family back if you want...or get a better job in a different state...!
Luckily for the kids future, all my kids and grand kids have bailed on Oklahoma except for the last 2. One of those is being raised by a mother who is pretty amazing...well, they both are, but one gets a lot of additional after school attention! A LOT!! He will do well in spite of the Oklahoma schools!! And the other is in kindergarten and I have told them they are gonna have to move - Joplin or Fayetteville are both good options...both parents are in medical field so can easily get jobs.
Bottom line - we will continue to see the Republicontin's elected here. Trump polls 60% if that gives you any hints/indications. And education will continue to be last on their priority list - we will remain behind Mississippi for the foreseeable future. And we don't even need to talk about all the other infrastructure items - destruction of public education is enough.
This needs repeating;
"When you wage war on the public schools, you're attacking the mortar that holds the community together. You're not a conservative, you're a vandal.” - Garrison Keillor