Latest news with #Gollihare
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmakers eye investing millions to upgrade schools on Altus, Enid air force bases
Eisenhower Elementary School, located on Vance Air Force Base in Enid, is pictured. (Photo by Billy Hefton/Enid News & Eagle) (Editor's note: This photo is available to republish with only this content and must be credited to the photographer.) OKLAHOMA CITY — State senators on Wednesday advanced a measure out of committee that would allow public schools located on military bases to receive millions of dollars in special state aid to make needed renovations. Critics of the plan though said providing carving out funding for schools only located at military installations does nothing to help other communities that need state assistance to upgrade their own aging school infrastructure. Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville, said House Bill 2516 creates the Base Infrastructure Needs and Development-Schools Revolving Fund, which would serve as the framework for lawmakers to spend funds to improve public schools on military installations. The funding would be aimed at decreasing the likelihood of military base closures or increasing the chances of expansion. While the measure does not yet provide any direct funding for the schools, he said lawmakers are looking at potentially investing about $21 million to make needed repairs to education infrastructure at military installations in Enid, Altus and McAlester. Under proposed budget talks, the school at Vance Air Force Base in Enid would receive about $5 million and Altus Air Force Base's school would receive about $6.2 million. He said legislators are also considering providing funding for a 2-mile road project at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. Gollihare said the public schools at Altus and Vance air force bases were built in the 1960s and are owned and operated by local school districts within the boundaries of the military installations. The schools are included on a federal priority list that identifies them as being outdated, in disrepair, in need of upgrading or having too many students and not enough capacity, he said. They are part of the federally-run Public Schools on Military Installations program. Under the program, which was created by former Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, the federal government contributes 80% of the project's cost while the state or local community provides the remaining 20%, Gollihare said. Federal grants can be used to build, repair, renovate, or expand schools. He said while the Altus and Enid schools could theoretically use local bonds to pay for the construction, his understanding is both districts have already reached bonding capacity. Gollihare said this funding would represent an investment in the two bases which have a combined economic impact of over $1.2 billion and employ over 3,300 civilians and 3,500 military personnel. Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, said the legislation is very important to keep the Vance Air Force Base in Enid and to preserve the region's quality of life and the K-6th grade school. 'It's a good deal for the base and a good deal for the area,' Pederson said. But Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, who voted against the legislation, said lawmakers need to 'invest adequately in all public schools,' to address infrastructure issues equally statewide. 'I understand that these particular facilities might be in disrepair, but I think that it is incredibly important that we continue to point out that there are additional facilities in our local communities currently that have the same conditions, and so carving out a specific subset does not ensure that all students have the same opportunities,' she said. The measure, which has already cleared the state House, passed the Senate budget committee by 19-4 vote. It is now eligible to be heard in the Senate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill banning energy companies from using eminent domain moves through OK Senate
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Senate lawmakers voted to move forward with a bill that would ban certain green energy companies from using eminent domain on private property. Senate Bill 352 states that eminent domain can not be used by 'wind energy facilities, solar energy facilities, battery storage facilities, or hydrogen gas facilities on private property.' 'Private property owners must have protections,' said Sen. Todd Gollihare (R-Kellyville). Gollihare authored the legislation. He was asked how he identified these businesses as ones to restrict. Bill locking the clock on standard time in OK passes committee 'These green energy facilities and all the conflict that's going on in rural Oklahoma with wind turbines as well as solar projects,' said Gollihare. He cited recent projects in northern Oklahoma, where companies used eminent domain to move forward. He said his bill adds safeguards for landowners.'These landowners want to have a say in who's taking their property and who's using their land for what. That's how we identified that,' said Gollihare. The legislation would also require electric companies to get approval from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on high-voltage line projects. Senator Mary Boren (D-Norman) said she started looking into the state's eminent domain laws after having to deal with the possibility it would be enforced for a turnpike in her district.'I learned that Oklahoma has some of the worst eminent domain laws in the nation as far as private property owners,' said Boren. Gollihare said the legislation would strengthen those statutes while protecting private property owners.'Since 1915 no significant changes have been made to the eminent domain statute. Other than prohibiting its use for wind turbine in 2011,' said Gollihare. 'Senate Bill 352 is the first step in updating this statute to protect private property rights in the modern era.' The measure passed the full Senate and will now make its way to the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
