Oklahoma education officials hope to avoid big budget cut

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are hoping to avoid another big funding cut in the next fiscal year.

The Oklahoman (https://bit.ly/2ec39xL ) reports that education officials are concerned after their budget was cut 16 percent by lawmakers last session. Republican state Sen. Mike Shulz told higher education officials Wednesday that the state can expect a flat year, which will result in another difficult budget session.

Regent Toney Stricklin stressed the need to clear up misconceptions with legislators about higher education resources.

George Pernsteiner, president of the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, told the regents that budget cuts have taken Oklahoma from 8 percent above the national average in per-student state funding in 2014-15 to the current 14 percent below average.

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Information from: The Oklahoman, https://www.newsok.com