Rep. Tom Gann wants lawmakers to take a look at how the Commissioners of the Land Office (CLO) are distributing funds for public schools. He authored a bill in the previous session which would have the CLO paying for teachers compensation.
“My bill, which asked for more revenue to be distributed and directed towards teacher compensation, drew so much interest by Oklahomans across the state,” Gann said. “It received backing by constitutional law experts and other lawmakers. The School Land Fund needs to be transparently managed.”
Gann’s bill didn’t make it to the House floor because he claims a controversial opinion by the Attorney General’s Office stopped it in its tracks.
Gann wants to know more about the investment earnings of the fund and wants greater transparency on how the agency funds are spent and distributed.
According to the state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the CLO’s total portfolio was almost $2.4 billion for 2017. Total program revenues were $322.8 million, compared to $87.6 million in 2016.
Friday is the House deadline for interim study requests.
