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CareerTech previews Veneta Skills Center open house and outlines apprenticeship work, warns of ad valorem funding risk
Summary
CareerTech leaders told the board about a Jan. 12 open house for the Veneta Skills Center, said the agency is helping draft statewide apprenticeship policy, and warned that proposed homestead property-tax reductions could significantly shift ad valorem revenue that funds tech centers (agency cited ~67% reliance).
The Oklahoma CareerTech director told the state board that the agency will host an open house for the new Veneta Skills Center on Jan. 12 and is assisting the governor's office and Secretary Hamlin with drafting apprenticeship policy.
"We are opening a new building," the director said, asking board members to attend the Jan. 12 event. The director also said CareerTech has been asked to help draft apprenticeship language at the governor's request and that updates on a midterm funding-formula review will be provided to the board next month.
On funding, the director told the board CareerTech tech centers receive a substantial share of their revenue from ad valorem property taxes, stating that "tech centers operate on a 67% ad valorem" figure across the state. He warned that proposed measures to reduce or eliminate homestead property taxes — referenced in the meeting as a state question or legislative bills — would shift tax burdens from residential property to commercial, agricultural and other nonresidential property, and could have a significant fiscal impact. In the transcript the director cited an estimated impact presented as "about a $1.21200000000.0 dollar estimated impact," language the director acknowledged could be larger.
The director emphasized the agency will present facts about how ad valorem revenue is used rather than advocating for a position as a state agency. Board members asked clarifying questions about the percentage and the potential statewide effects.
No formal board action was taken on these announcements during the meeting.
