A lawsuit alleging the unconstitutionality of the school bond package approved by voters in the Luther Public School district last year had its day in Oklahoma County District Court on Thursday.
Have you been wondering why there have been no visible signs of construction to construct new safe rooms, cafeterias, and a media center? The pending litigation has been part of the holdup. Last April, voters approved a $28.6 bond package for the projects, the first bond passage in the school district for over a decade.
Former school board member Charles De Furia, a constitutional watchdog and staunch defender of taxpayers, took his fight to court, arguing that the school district exceeded its lawful debt limit and the Oklahoma County Finance Authority (OCFA) had no business handling the financing. Representing himself, De Furia crunched his own numbers, certain that his math proved the bond plan unconstitutional.
The Case for Stopping the Project
De Furia’s concerns boiled down to two issues: whether the district was taking on more debt than legally allowed and whether an unelected entity like the OCFA should be involved. His lawsuit, filed last September, is part of a growing chorus of scrutiny over rising property taxes and school financing methods. While he insisted he wasn’t opposed to funding solutions, he maintained that this particular bond structure violates Oklahoma’s constitution.
At the hearing, attorneys for the school district and county argued the financing method—used for decades across Oklahoma—was both legal and necessary to keep up with school infrastructure needs. One attorney called the lawsuit “a political grievance masquerading as a legal claim.”
The Judge’s Verdict
In court, De Furia argued that missing facts should delay the ruling, but Judge Don Andrews wasn’t swayed. Assuring De Furia he had reviewed all filings, the judge ruled in favor of the school district. “I need to be as informed as possible. This is a unique issue before the court,” Andrews said before delivering his decision. He also gently suggested that if De Furia wanted to continue his fight with an appeal, he might consider hiring a lawyer.
What’s Next?
With today’s ruling, Luther Public Schools likely plans to proceed with a bond sale next month. Nearly $1 million has already been spent on architecture and planning. If all goes as scheduled, the first shovels could hit the dirt in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, De Furia has 30 days to appeal, and the broader conversation about property tax concerns isn’t going away. For more on that debate, check out The Rope Report, where former Luther Mayor Jenni White recently discussed potential legislative reforms with newly elected State Senator Kendal Sacchieri.
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