Why Gov. Mary Fallin Won’t Back School Storm Shelter Ballot Measure

• Logan Layden
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  Logan Layden is a reporter and managing editor for StateImpact Oklahoma. He is a native of McAlester, Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2009. Logan spent three years as a state capitol reporter and local host of All Things Considered for NPR member station KGOU in Norman and six years as a reporter with StateImpact from 2011 to 2017. Most recently, he was news director for McAlester Radio before returning to public radio in 2020.

Joe Wertz / StateImpact Oklahoma

Gov. Mary Fallin at a state capitol press conference in Oklahoma City.

Supporters of an initiative petition to fund tornado shelters in Oklahoma schools are gathering the thousands of signatures needed to send the proposal to a statewide vote, but Gov. Mary Fallin won’t be on the list.

The Tulsa World‘s Barbara Hoberock reports the plan, which would use revenue from the state franchise tax to pay the $500 million debt, does not have the governor’s support:

“I am not sure that is the best way of doing it,” Fallin said.

Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz explains further:

“If this issue goes to a vote of the people, Oklahomans will vote their conscience and Gov. Fallin will respect their decision,” said Alex Weintz, a spokesman for the governor. “It’s important for people to understand, however, that funding storm shelters or safe rooms in every school is an expensive proposition.”

Weintz told The World if money from the franchise tax is used, it will mean less to go around for other important education-related priorities.

But state Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, points out that a Republican lawmaker tried to get rid of the franchise tax entirely last session. The bill, authored by Rep. Leslie Osborn of Mustang, failed.

Weintz says Fallin is also against a statewide ballot measure on the issue because such decisions should be made locally. Supporters counter that the decisions would be made locally, as school districts would be responsible for coming up with some matching funds.