Oklahoma Gov. Fallin-Backed School Storm Shelter Plan Dies in Senate

The Oklahoma Senate has killed a proposal backed by Gov. Mary Fallin that would have called for a statewide vote allowing some school districts to increase property taxes to pay for safety upgrades like storm shelters and safe rooms.

The Senate voted 25-16 against House Joint Resolution 1092 that had narrowly passed the House.

The proposal would have sent to Oklahoma voters a proposal to allow school districts to exceed their bonding capacity one time over the next five years to pay for voter-approved safety initiatives, including storm shelters and safe rooms.

Critics said the measure would affect only 25 school districts that are near their bonding capacity, or about 3 percent of the more than 500 districts in Oklahoma.