Filling the Budget Hole: Options for a Balanced Approach

David Blatt // March 25, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Reports and Fact Sheets //

Despite a drop in revenue certified as available for next year’s budget, a new report from Oklahoma Policy Institute shows that budget cuts are not inevitable. Lawmakers have numerous feasible revenue options that they can use to fill the budget hole.

Appropriations-08-15-CPIadjustedThe report, “Filling the Budget Hole: Options for a Balanced Approach” lays out seven options that state policymakers should consider as part of budget discussions this session:

  • Curbing the tax break for horizontal oil and gas production
  • Eliminating the “double deduction” of state income taxes
  • Adopting combined corporate reporting
  • Enhancing tax collection from online sales
  • Tapping the Rainy Day Fund
  • Maintaining transportation funding at current levels
  • Accepting federal funds to expand health coverage

Click here for the full-length brief

Click here for the 2-page Executive Summary

Click here for the blog post (with links to more detailed discussion of each revenue option)

Click here for the press release

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Blatt // dblatt@okpolicy.org

Former Executive Director David Blatt joined OK Policy in 2008 and served as its Executive Director from 2010 to 2019. He previously served as Director of Public Policy for Community Action Project of Tulsa County and as a budget analyst for the Oklahoma State Senate. He has a Ph.D. in political science from Cornell University and a B.A. from the University of Alberta. David has been selected as Political Scientist of the Year by the Oklahoma Political Science Association, Local Social Justice Champion by the Dan Allen Center for Social Justice, and Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers.

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