Floundering amid a devastating budget crisis, Oklahoma has turned to slashing higher education funding. State lawmakers have cut $67 million in higher ed funding from the current budget. And that comes on top of the $112 million that was cut last year, reports NewsOK.
Oklahoma’s support for its 25 public colleges and universities has declined by almost a quarter billion dollars since 2008. College presidents and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have mounted deep opposition to the slashed funding. They argued that continued cuts endanger the state’s ability to produce a quality workforce and create good jobs.
University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz said: “States that prosper are states that invest in education.”
Oklahoma has also drawn further criticism this week for eliminating tax breaks for the state’s poorest residents.
