Fallin talks jobs, education at town hall

Jobs, the economy and education were the three issues Gov. Mary Fallin focused on during her speech at the Wes Watkins Center on Wednesday.

"(These issues) all tie together and are essential in moving Oklahoma forward to a more prosperous time," Fallin said.

Fallin began by pointing to specific legislation passed this year, which supports her administration's, "pro-business agenda."

"One of the top key issues we wanted to focus on was, how can we help businesses be able to keep more of their money?" Fallin said.

Fallin cited a 0.25 percent cut to Oklahoma's income tax as one of the keys for the state having a prosperous economy.

"We know that the states that are having the best job growth and have stronger economies," Fallin said, "are more than likely going to be the states that have taxes that are lower."

Virginia, Colorado, North Carolina and Massachusetts were ranked in the top five states for business in 2010, according to a CNBC study. Oklahoma was ranked 25th.

Each of these states has a higher income tax rate than Oklahoma, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators.

Texas, ranked No. 1, has no state income tax.

On education, Fallin said tthere will 87,000 new jobs in Oklahoma by 2018 that will require college degrees, compared to just 42,000 new jobs for high school graduates.

"We need college gradtuates in our state," Fallin said, "Because that's where the jobs are going to be. It is clear how important higher education is to our success of our state."

Fallin said Oklahoma will be joining a program called Complete College America in September, which aims to encourage students to finish college once they start.

"Our goal os to increase the number of college degrees earned in Oklahoma by 17,000 every year," Fallin said.

She touched shortly on the State Legislature's ability to balance the state budget, which faced a $500 million shortfall this year.  

"We prioritized our spending and directed money towards our biggest needs," Fallin said.  

Fallin neglected, however, to discuss the 4.8 percent tuition increase OSU students are facing this fall.

The tuition increase comes directly from a $12 million cut to education funding.

The cuts were made in The Oklahoma State Legislature's attempts to balance the state budget.

In-state students will pay approximately $444 more per year, making the average yearly tuition about $7,107.