Oklahoma has steadily increased its support of public education over the past 25 years, but funding for school district transportation has lagged while costs have soared, according to information compiled by James White, assistant superintendent of financial services in the state Department of Education.
White said local districts are spending $120 million more on school bus transportation than they did in 1983, but state funding for transportation has gone up by only $3.2 million over the same period. He said state aid only covers 15% of local schools’ transportation expenses, including the cost of buses, fuel, and driver salaries.
The report said state aid to education in 1983 totaled $716.7 million, with 3% earmarked for transportation costs. In fiscal 2008, state aid to local education totaled $2 billion, but only 1.2% of the total was designated for transportation.
House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, said the Legislature has invested record amounts in education since in 2004.
“But most of the legislative education increases in recent years have been spent on teacher pay raises, health insurance benefit increases, and a commitment to shore up the teacher retirement system instead [of transportation],” Benge said.
Benge said lawmakers will consider rising transportation costs in developing the budget for fiscal 2010 when the Legislature convenes next year.
