OKLAHOMA CITY — While business leaders in Oklahoma favor reducing or even eliminating the state’s income tax, they wouldn’t support any cut if it came at the expense of public education or other core services.
An annual poll of leaders undertaken this summer by the State Chamber, the State Chamber Research Foundation and Oklahoma Business Roundtable revealed support for tax cuts and things like state incentives and promotional campaigns to attract business investment and skilled workers to the state, but even stronger interest in improving what many view as a failing public education system.
Weaknesses in the state’s education system were cited as serious concerns in the context of many young people entering their working years unprepared to hold down jobs…