State Superintendent requests emergency supplemental funding

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister and the Oklahoma State Department of Education have requested $56.2 million in emergency supplemental funding.

This request is an effort to, in part, to alleviate a mandated $62.3 million funding cut in the second revenue failure for the 2016 fiscal year. That reduction is part of the cuts announced on Thursday by Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger.

Hofmeister's request today would offset cuts in three of the five affected funding streams, which include one for the funding formula and two funds that cover health insurance for teachers and support personnel.

"We do not make this request lightly," said Hofmeister. "Amid this dire budget crisis, every state dollar is precious. But we must do everything in our power to shield children in the classroom from the negative impact of nearly $40 million in cuts to the funding formula this late in the school year."

Hofmeister made the request, which includes $16 million for Flexible Benefit Allowance costs in a letter delivered Friday to Gov. Fallin and the Oklahoma House and Senate Leadership.

Officials say that additional revenue reductions to the state's General Revenue Fund are possible in the final months of the fiscal year and a $1.3 billion shortfall is expected for the next, which begins July 1st.

To date, public education has been hit by more than $109 million in funding cuts.