Authors
Curtis Shelton
Policy Research Fellow
Curtis Shelton currently serves as a policy research fellow for OCPA with a focus on fiscal policy. Curtis graduated Oklahoma State University in 2016 with a Bachelors of Arts in Finance. Previously, he served as a summer intern at OCPA and spent time as a staff accountant for Sutherland Global Services.
Recent Articles
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Budget & Tax
Amid tax cuts, state revenue growth continues
On average, tax-cutting states have seen a larger increase in government revenue than states that didn’t cut taxes.Curtis Shelton | April 22, 2024
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma revenues rose as tax rate fell
Growing the size of government is never the goal of tax cuts, of course. But the deficits predicted by tax cut opponents have not materialized.Curtis Shelton | February 29, 2024
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Budget & Tax
Legislation would put Oklahoma taxpayers at risk
Proposed legislation would undo Oklahoma’s historic pension progress and put taxpayers at risk.Curtis Shelton | February 23, 2024
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Budget & Tax
Tax policies have consequences
Instead of punishing those who have been successful, states should adopt policies that make it easier for more people to find that same success.Curtis Shelton | February 7, 2024
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Budget & Tax
Do Oklahoma tax cuts benefit only the rich? No.
Those who claim that cutting the state income tax would only benefit the wealthy aren’t living in reality.Curtis Shelton | January 15, 2024
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Budget & Tax
Baseball star’s contract could save him a fortune in taxes
Shohei Ohtani's unique 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, featuring deferred payments of $68 million annually, significantly lowers his tax burden.Curtis Shelton | December 14, 2023
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Budget & Tax, Education
Purchasing power has declined
In the face of surging inflation and rising expenses in the state, private schools will likely raise tuition to cope with escalating costs and to compete with the rising salaries in public schools.Curtis Shelton | November 14, 2023
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Budget & Tax, Education
Oklahoma teacher salaries have risen dramatically
The average teacher salary in Oklahoma has dramatically increased with a significant portion of the raise attributed to an additional $250 million allocated during the 2023 legislative session.Curtis Shelton | November 10, 2023
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Education
Oklahoma per-student revenue has risen dramatically
From 2017 to 2022, total revenue for public education in Oklahoma significantly increased, leading to a substantial growth in per-pupil revenue, and this trend was further bolstered by a significant spending increase in 2023.Curtis Shelton | November 8, 2023
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Budget & Tax, Education
Government spending hikes put pressure on private schools
Public-school teacher salaries, already higher than those of their private-school counterparts, have increased by $8,000 in Oklahoma since 2018. Can private schools keep pace?Curtis Shelton | November 6, 2023
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