CareerTech board approves FY25 budget, allocates $28.6 million in one-time funds and OKs staff pay boost

The Oklahoma Department of CareerTech State Board on Monday approved its fiscal year 2025 budget, agreed to a formula to distribute $28,590,000 in one‑time legislative funding and authorized a 5% pay increase for employees in pay bands 17–19.

Director Hagan told the board the legislature provided a mixture of base and one‑time funds this year and that the first priority for the one‑time allocation is to reimburse midyear cuts and fully fund the agency’s formula‑based allotments. "The first goal of those dollars is to reimburse the cut that I had to give all schools midyear," Hagan said. She said $3 million is earmarked to fully fund FBA and another $1.5 million would support apprenticeship and workforce initiatives.

Why it matters: Career and technology centers serve as a direct pipeline to local jobs; the board’s choices will affect classroom technology, program capacity and whether waiting lists for full‑time programs can be reduced. The one‑time funds will not automatically…