Pottawatomie voters to consider sales tax to fund schools

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) - Voters in Pottawatomie County will decide next week whether to increase their sales tax to fund county schools.

The nearly half-cent tax increase would be split to provide funding for 14 public school districts in the county. The Shawnee News-Star reports (https://bit.ly/1N8rybO ) that the tax would bring in about $3.7 million annually.

Local superintendents say the funding would help pay for transportation and technology at schools. The Shawnee School District would receive the most funding annually under the plan, at just over $1 million.

The election is Nov. 10. It comes as organizers are gathering signatures for a 2016 ballot issue calling for a statewide 1-cent sales tax increase to fund public schools and teacher salaries.

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Information from: The Shawnee News-Star, https://www.news-star.com