In 2021, the state Legislature passed Senate Bill 222, the Redbud School Funding Act. The Redbud Act is intended to correct a deficit inherent in the schedule that funds education through property taxation.
Oklahoma school districts can earn an average of $330 per student from local tax sources for their building fund, which supports school facilities. Of the 540 districts and charter schools in the state, 337 – Marietta among them – fell below the state average in annual local tax revenue and are eligible to receive funds through Redbud grants to address the disparities occurring in schools receiving below-average funding, raising those districts’ funds to the state average.
Marietta was initially allocated $82,233.68, with a projected maximum allocation of $170,934.09.
Half of the funds were allocated during the first week in February, although the districts have not yet received the funds, with the additional funding to be distributed during the summer.
The Redbud Act directs a portion of tax revenue from medical marijuana to be distributed to the underfunded schools. For the fiscal year 2022, the bill directed $38.5 million to be apportioned to schools in the form of grants to be used to acquire or improve school buildings.
"Our students will benefit directly from this funding," said Representative Tommy Hardin. "The Redbud School Funding Grants gives our local school districts more autonomy to make the decisions that are best for their students."