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Board authorizes $1.6 million in unspent lottery grant funds for tech-center projects and seeks to move to real-time distribution
Summary
The board approved using $1.6 million in available lottery grant funds for previously submitted but unfunded tech-center competitive projects and directed staff to shift lottery grant distribution away from an arrears model toward a more current schedule.
The Oklahoma CareerTech State Board approved reallocating roughly $1.6 million in available lottery grant funds to competitive tech‑center grant requests that were not funded in the spring cycle, and authorized staff to pursue moving lottery grant distribution from an arrears model to a more current, on‑time schedule.
Corey Gray, who presented the lottery grants item, said the agency has maintained an arrears payment model for nearly two decades because of historical state funding shortfalls immediately after the lottery's rollout. Gray told the board the agency’s lottery receipts have been consistent in recent years and that moving off the arrears schedule would allow the agency to put available funds back into the field sooner.
Gray said the packet included a list of previously submitted, unfunded competitive grant requests (many in the $50,000 range) and recommended the board authorize funding the remaining viable proposals and then work on a separate review of the K‑12 grant side.
Board members said moving to more current grant distributions would give tech centers more time to plan projects and respond to cost increases. After discussion a board member moved and the board approved the change; votes were recorded in the affirmative.
Board action: The board approved reallocating $1.6 million in lottery grant funds to fund previously submitted tech‑center requests and agreed staff should pursue adjustments to the lottery grant payment schedule.
