February GRF receipts miss estimate by 18%
OKLAHOMA CITY – February General Revenue Fund (GRF) collections missed the estimate by 18 percent, the farthest margin below the estimate so far this fiscal year.
State Government
Seeking foster families to take care of our children
By Governor Mary Fallin Special to Guthrie News Page I can still remember the late-night telephone calls. My mom worked for the Department of Human…
Sen. Griffin wins Senate approval for juvenile justice reform bills
Two bills reforming parts of Oklahoma’s juvenile justice system won approval by the full Senate on Wednesday. Sen. AJ Griffin is the author of Senate Bills…
$78M agreement plan for Oklahoma schools, prisons
In a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Oklahoma state legislative leaders, along with Gov. Mary Fallin, announced an agreement to withdraw $78 million from the…
State budget cuts will impact ODOT’s Eight-year Plan
Executive Director Mike Patterson told the Oklahoma Transportation Commission on Monday that the two revenue failures for State Fiscal Year 2016 have reduced the Rebuilding Oklahoma and Driver Safety…
New free tool helps recover more than $500,000 for Oklahomans
OKLAHOMA CITY – More than half a million dollars has been returned to Oklahomans in just under a year with the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Lost…
Gov. Fallin proposes rainy day fund withdrawal for schools and prisons
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today proposed using the state’s savings account, the Rainy Day Fund, to partially offset last week’s deepened budget cuts…
Highlighting the good news on the earthquake issue
As I write this article, state officials are responding to the seismic activity from two weeks ago. It appears that this effort will seek to…
Gov. Fallin thanks House of Representatives for passing revenue measure
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today applauded the Oklahoma House of Representatives for passing a bill that would free up about $125 million annually…
Hofmeister asks Gov. Fallin, lawmakers for supplemental funds amid education funding cuts
OKLAHOMA CITY – In the wake of yesterday’s declaration of a second General Revenue failure since December 2015, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister…
DOC Director comments on “dire” situation following another budget cut
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, after the Oklahoma Board of Corrections monthly meeting in Oklahoma City, Corrections Director Joe M. Allbaugh and Corrections Board Chairman Kevin…
Hofmeister calls further education funding cuts ‘brutal, heartbreaking’
OKLAHOMA CITY — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister made the following comments today regarding the state of Oklahoma’s deepening budget cuts.
Update – Legislative action on earthquake issue
Imagine the following absurdity: a police officer pulls over a speeding motorist and issues him a ticket. The motorist responds, “You don’t have the authority…
Gov. Fallin applauds House Committee for passing criminal justice reform bills
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today commended the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee for approving four bills related to reforms spotlighted in her State…
Gov. Fallin orders state agencies to remove question about felony convictions from job applications
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed an executive order directing state agencies to eliminate questions about prior felony convictions from employment applications.
The day of reckoning – Part 1
It is now reasonable to forecast the following: fiscal year 2017 will become the first year in recent state history when the amount of state…
Education in Oklahoma getting a $19.1M sigh of relief?
The Tulsa World is reporting a revolving fund for schools was recently discovered and the anticipated $19 million reduction isn’t likely to occur after all….
State: BOE approves $5.8B for appropriations
OKLAHOMA CITY — The appropriated budget hole for Fiscal Year 2017 will be $1.3 billion.
The benefits of a down budget year
A few days ago, a state agency head appeared before one of our House Appropriations Committees. He described his agency’s efforts to cut cost: “We…
State: Board of Equalization meets Tuesday to update revenue certification
OKLAHOMA CITY — The appropriated budget hole for Fiscal Year 2017 is expected to grow to $1.3 billion next week.