OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Mary Fallin said Wednesday that she was backing a measure to let schools vote to go above their bond limits on a one-time basis generate funds for storm shelters and school safety.
Fallin said House Joint Resolution 1092 by Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, and Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, would put the issue to a statewide vote in November.
The announcement comes after Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, filed House Joint Resolution 1078 seeking a statewide vote to issue a $500 million bond schools could take advantage of to build storm shelters. An initiative petition pending before the Oklahoma Supreme Court failed to secure the needed signatures.
The issue was pushed to the forefront following a May tornado that left seven children dead in the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore.
Christopher Legg, 9, was one of them. His mother has been an outspoken advocate for the $500 million bond proposal. The debt would be retired with the franchise tax.
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Danni Legg, Christopher’s mother, said she was disappointed it took Fallin more than eight months to come up with a plan.
“I think she is trying to save face,” Legg said.
Fallin said she and others began talking about the issue immediately after the tornado.
“It is not something new,” Fallin said at a forum sponsored by the Associated Press.
Fallin was initially critical of the $500 million bond issue proposal because it would take money away from other areas of government. On Wednesday, she said $500 million would not be enough to fill the needs of districts.
“I am the governor of this state, but I am also a mother,” Fallin said. “Nothing is more important to me than the safety of our children. I’m asking lawmakers in both parties to work with me this session to support a constitutional amendment giving each school district the tools it needs to protect young Oklahomans from tornadoes, shooters and other threats.”
She said the funds could be used for things such as bullet-proof glass and metal detectors in addition to shelters.
Dorman, who is termed out and is considering a run for governor, said the measure Fallin is backing is a property tax increase. He predicted that it would not pass the Oklahoma Legislature.
He said the timing of Fallin’s announcement was suspect but didn’t doubt the issue had been discussed in Fallin’s office.
“If she truly feels the citizens of the state should decide the issue, I call on her — in her State of the State address — to endorse both resolutions and let the people of the state decide which is the best plan,” Dorman said. “I believe she is afraid to do that.”
Fallin will unveil her executive budget and deliver her State of the State speech Monday to a joint session assembled in the House chamber.
