In partnership with
Monday, July 27, 2026 • Dangerous heat. Highs > 100. ☀️
The current forecast shows no relief until Saturday, August 1. 😩
🎙️ ALSO: At the bottom of today’s newsletter is my conversation with Congressional candidate in Oklahoma’s District 1, John Croisant, about his concerns with AI data centers and Flock cameras.
Poll results:
We received 154 votes on the Saturday poll, “Do you trust local governments to be transparent when someone dies in custody?”
• 8 said Yes
• 124 said No
• 21 said, “Not sure.”
New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)
“It’s defunding schools”: What Oklahoma superintendents say about State Question 844
Michael Duebelliehn, a contractor with 2 J's Electric, sands down a piece of conduit at Pryor High School on July 20, 2026. (Judd Slivka/Oklahoma Watch)
By Andrea Eger, Oklahoma Watch
👉 Click here to support this newsroom
Oklahoma voters will decide Aug. 25 whether to allow the state to opt out of paying for one of its longest-running economic development programs — and school leaders in some of the state’s fastest-growing local economies say the change could end up reducing funding for schools statewide.
State Question 844 would amend the Oklahoma Constitution so the Legislature would no longer be required to reimburse local towns, counties and school districts for property tax revenue they lose out on when new and expanding manufacturing facilities take advantage of the state’s five-year property tax exemption.
Proponents, including House Speaker Kyle Hilbert and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, said lawmakers need greater control over a reimbursement system they argue has become increasingly expensive and uneven, with only a handful of counties receiving the bulk of payments.
Neither Hilbert nor Paxton were available for interviews for this story.
At the center of the issue are school districts such as Pryor, where major manufacturing investments including an ever-expanding Google data center have generated millions of dollars in property tax exemptions.
“The complaint is that only a few counties are receiving the majority of the reimbursements, but those counties have a disproportionate amount of their ad valorem being waived,” said Pryor Superintendent Lisa Muller. “If this program didn’t exist, we would just collect.”
Voters approved a state question in the mid-1980s to incentivize new or expanded manufacturing facilities with a five-year exemption from local property taxes. That ballot initiative also designated 1% of state income tax collections to be collected in the newly created Oklahoma Ad Valorem Reimbursement Fund, designed to compensate local schools, CareerTech centers, county governments, cities and towns, junior colleges, county health departments, and libraries for the property tax revenue they forgo.
Your Retirement Has a Vulnerability Most Advisors Never Mention.
Dollar-denominated accounts — 401(k)s, IRAs, savings — are fully exposed to inflation, currency debasement, and government policy. Most financial advisors won't tell you that, because most of them don't profit when you know. Here's what's actually available to you:
A Gold IRA uses the same tax protections you already have
Physical gold sits outside inflation and banking risk
Accounts can go live in as little as 24 hours
Zero setup fees, zero-fee buyback guaranteed
Free 2026 kit explains everything — no obligation
The Oklahoma Rundown 📰
Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.
Here’s what’s happening in Oklahoma today:
Oklahoma Gubernatorial candidates speak on agricultural views and policies (KJRH)
The Oklahoma general election is in 100 days, hear from the two candidates running for Attorney General (News 9)
5 things to know about Oklahoma State Question 844 (Tulsa World)*
Oklahoma Chronicle: Do the benefits of Flock cameras outweigh privacy concerns? (KOCO)
The 6 new laws Oklahoma parents need to know about before school starts (News On 6)
3 injured in steel and wire plant explosion (KTEN)
Edmond YMCA pools closing early due to air conditioning issues (KOCO)
World War II plane finds permanent home at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum (Tulsa World)*
‘We are all 74127’: New Tulsa program helps neighbors find solutions in their ZIP code (Tulsa Flyer)
Calera asks residents to conserve water until repairs can be made (KXII)
Roger Denny addresses OU football fan concerns over stadium renovation (The Oklahoman)*
ICF rebrands as Paddle Worldwide at OKC Championships (KFOR)
Monday Poll
Should the reimbursement local communities receive for corporate tax incentives be guaranteed in the Oklahoma Constitution, or should future Legislatures be able to change it?
🎙️ Oklahoma Memo Podcast 🎙️
OKLAHOMA MEMO
Transparency, AI Data Centers and Privacy: The Debate Facing Oklahoma
How to support Oklahoma Memo
✅ Want to partner with Oklahoma Memo? Click here.
✅ Message me anytime at [email protected].
✅ Tip jar or monthly support: @Ryan-Oklahoma-Memo (Venmo)
✅ News tips and reader comments: [email protected]
✅ NEW! Follow Oklahoma Memo on LinkedIn