An OK Policy brief titled "Let There Be Light: Making Oklahoma's Tax Expenditures More Transparent and Accountable" makes the case for increasing disclosure and scrutiny of tax expenditures, the array of exemptions, credits, deductions, and the like in the tax code that allow taxes not to be paid when they otherwise would.

Numbers You Need is a monthly publication from OK Policy that presents key data on the state's economy, work force, human services, and budget in one concise easy-to-read fact sheet.

The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Oklahoma 2009 calculates the amount of income Oklahoma families need to meet their basic needs. The report was prepared by Dr. Diana Pearce of the Cenetr for Women's Welfare at the University of Washington for the Oklahoma Asset Building Coalition.

Click here for the full 102-page report, which includes Tables calculating the Standard for 8 family types in each county, plus Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

OK Policy's issue brief, More Than Just Getting By, serves as an overview of asset building in Oklahoma. A major segment of the population has few, if any, assets, despite the fact that they are a key element in developing financial security. Policies that build and protect assets can help to provide opportunity and strengthen Oklahoma's middle class.

A new report  from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) reveals that low and moderate-income Oklahomans pay a greater percentage of their incomes in state and local taxes than those with higher incomes. 

The full report is available here.

Oklahoma-specific results from the report are available here.

A fact sheet from Oklahoma Policy Institute offers a series of concise numbers and graphs summarizing key findings from the 2008 American Community Survey on poverty in Oklahoma. 

Oklahoma Policy Institute's Online Budget Guide, a comprehensive look at how Oklahoma state and local governments raise money and provide public services, is now fully available.

OK Policy and the Oklahoma Asset Building Coalition are pleased to partner with CFED to release the 2009-2010 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, a comprehensive look at wealth, poverty and the financial security of families.

It's back to school for OK Policy's Stimulus update! Our August 2009 issue profiles over $425 million in new federal money available to Oklahoma's education system. 

This fact sheet summarizes the ten things you should know (but may not) about Oklahoma’s Budget and Tax System.

Persentations to the Oklahoma Food Security Committee:

• State and County Baseline Data (Regional Food Bankof Central Oklahoma)
• Stimulus Funding for Food and Nutrition Programs (OK Policy)

On June 4th, Treasurer Scott Meacham announced a mid-year FY '09 revenue shortfall in the General Revenue Fund, requiring agencies to take cuts to their FY '09 appropriations totaling $6.8 million.This OSF spreadsheet allocates the shortfall across the state agencies

With little time left in the legislative session, Oklahoma's budget is still up in the air. While a budget agreement between Governor Brad Henry and legislative leaders is imminent, a new Oklahoma Policy Institute issue brief advises state leaders to more seriously consider employing the Rainy Day Fund in FY '10.
 
The brief--"Now is the Time: Using Stimulus and Rainy Day Funds can Reduce the Impact of State Budget Cuts"--projects the state's economic condition and budget shortfalls for the next four years.

Property taxes, also known as ad valorem taxes, are the largest single local government revenue sources in Oklahoma (52 percent of local government tax revenue). Oklahoma has among the nation's lowest property taxes. Two proposals being considered by the 2009 Legislature would lower the annual cap on property tax increases. This fact sheet summarizes major elements of  Oklahoma property taxes.