Landmark bill HB1010xx passed the House pretty quickly, but the Senate did not want the $5.00 per night hotel and motel tax included.
House Representative Kyle Hilbert says the reason for the Senate backing out on the hotel and motel tax was that “most of the lodging tax would be paid by out-of-state motorists. There is concern that it would hurt the convention industry.”
The loss of that particular item will shorten the bill’s revenue by about $40 million.
RELATED: Read the entire revenue breakdown here.
According to State Representative Mark Lawson, the revenue will work out to an average raise of $6,100 per teacher. First year teachers will get about $5,000 while teachers with 25 years of experience should see around $8,000.
The bill goes back to the House today to have the hotel/motel tax removed and then goes to the Governor’s desk.
Lawson said that he spoken with Governor Fallin last night and that she intends to sign the bill.
Though some teachers were outspoken about “nothing less than 10,” others were willing compromise with whatever the state could work out. Lawson says that he knows he and his colleagues did they best the could.
“I’m proud of the work that Rep Hilbert and Sen Leewright have done to make this possible. The three of us know this was the right thing to do,” Lawson said.
Superintendent Armstrong is scheduled to have a meeting with the teachers of the Sapulpa Public Schools district today after classes end to discuss the bill’s passage and its effect on the planned teacher walkout. Sapulpa Times will update you when we get the results of that meeting.
