Paul Shinn served as Budget and Tax Senior Policy Analyst with OK Policy from May 2019 until December 2021. Before joining OK Policy, Shinn held budget and finance positions for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the Department of Human Services, the cities of Oklahoma City and Del City and several local governments in his native Oregon. He also taught political science and public administration at the University of Oklahoma, University of Central Oklahoma, and California State University Stanislaus. While with the Government Finance Officers Association, Paul worked on consulting and research projects for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and several state agencies and local governments. He also served as policy analyst for CAP Tulsa. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from University of Oklahoma and degrees from the University of Oregon and the University of Maryland College Park. He lives in Oklahoma City with his wife Carmelita.
By: Paul Shinn
March 17, 2020 // Updated: March 19, 2020
During these unprecedented times, it’s important that our lawmakers maintain a laser-like focus on only critical legislation directly pertaining to this health emergency or fulfill its constitutionally mandated budget responsibilities. [More...]
By: Paul Shinn
March 3, 2020 // Updated: March 4, 2020
While many think Medicaid expansion will mainly benefit younger Oklahomans, like new parents and others just starting their careers, it’s important to remember that older Oklahomans between the ages of 45 and 65 stand to benefit as well. Because rural areas have a disproportionately higher population of residents over age 45, Medicaid expansion will make more health care dollars available in rural communities where they are in urgent need. [More...]
By: Paul Shinn
January 30, 2020 // Updated: February 18, 2020
Retired Oklahoma state and local public servants have now gone 10 years without a cost of living adjustment, while inflation has eaten away at their income. [More...]
By: Paul Shinn
September 12, 2019 // Updated: September 12, 2019
In the coming years, state leaders will have to address short-term needs to support programs that improve Oklahomans’ health, safety, careers, and infrastructure, even as they face a growing long-term structural budget deficit. [More...]
By: Paul Shinn
September 10, 2019 // Updated: August 3, 2023
Gross receipts are the total amount of receipts collected by state government.
The state’s gross receipts for FY 2023were $17.4 billion, a 6.0 percent increase from FY 2022 and an all-time high, as Oklahoma’s tax collections benefited from a strong… Read more [More...]
By: Paul Shinn
August 28, 2019 // Updated: September 3, 2019
When the Legislature ended Oklahoma’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) refundability in 2016, they reduced an essential tax benefit for over 200,000 Oklahoma families. Prior to that change, if the amount a family received from the EITC was larger than… Read more [More...]
By: Paul Shinn
July 17, 2019 // Updated: July 18, 2019
Over the past decade, all agencies faced repeated and serious budget cuts, but small agencies were hit hardest, with many seeing their state funding cut by 20 to 50 percent. [More...]
By: Paul Shinn
June 6, 2019 // Updated: May 27, 2021
Without accounting for inflation, next year’s appropriations will be the largest in state history, surpassing the $7.567 billion budget in FY 2019.
When adjusted for inflation, next year’s budget remains 10.2 percent below the budget of FY 2009 and 14.9 percent less than the peak year of FY 2007. [More...]
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The State of Oklahoma has $1.035 billion in three savings accounts. Oklahoma has the resources to act quickly. [More...]
During these unprecedented times, it’s important that our lawmakers maintain a laser-like focus on only critical legislation directly pertaining to this health emergency or fulfill its constitutionally mandated budget responsibilities. [More...]
While many think Medicaid expansion will mainly benefit younger Oklahomans, like new parents and others just starting their careers, it’s important to remember that older Oklahomans between the ages of 45 and 65 stand to benefit as well. Because rural areas have a disproportionately higher population of residents over age 45, Medicaid expansion will make more health care dollars available in rural communities where they are in urgent need. [More...]
We cannot save our way to better education, health, and economic outcomes. Prosperity comes from wise investments based on actual need. [More...]
Retired Oklahoma state and local public servants have now gone 10 years without a cost of living adjustment, while inflation has eaten away at their income. [More...]
In the coming years, state leaders will have to address short-term needs to support programs that improve Oklahomans’ health, safety, careers, and infrastructure, even as they face a growing long-term structural budget deficit. [More...]
When the Legislature ended Oklahoma’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) refundability in 2016, they reduced an essential tax benefit for over 200,000 Oklahoma families. Prior to that change, if the amount a family received from the EITC was larger than… Read more [More...]
Over the past decade, all agencies faced repeated and serious budget cuts, but small agencies were hit hardest, with many seeing their state funding cut by 20 to 50 percent. [More...]
Without accounting for inflation, next year’s appropriations will be the largest in state history, surpassing the $7.567 billion budget in FY 2019.
When adjusted for inflation, next year’s budget remains 10.2 percent below the budget of FY 2009 and 14.9 percent less than the peak year of FY 2007. [More...]
