OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Those on both sides of State Question 744 continue to spar on how the state would pay for the education spending initiative should it pass.

Oklahoma City University hosted a forum Thursday night that drew about 75 people to listen to Devery Youngblood, speaking for the One Oklahoma Coalition against the proposal, and Joel Robison, the treasurer of the group Yes on 744.

The proposed constitutional amendment would require Oklahoma within three years to meet the regional average of per-student spending of its six surrounding states. Estimates on how much the proposal would cost the state over the next three years range from about $900 million to $1.7 billion.

Robison says the proposal can be paid for by drastically reducing the number of tax credits offered by the state. Youngblood says either a tax increase or massive cuts to state agencies are more likely.