Hard budget choices remain

The Tulsa World ran our op-ed laying out the budget challenges that state agencies are now beginning to confront as the new fiscal year approaches:

We won’t know until next June the full impact on public services or our health and well-being, but we can see warning signs. Early indications are that enrollment and usage in the Medicaid program are growing faster in the downturn than the levels provided for in the budget. The Department of Human Services already faces a deficit in the ADvantage program that provides an alternative to nursing home care.

We can expect fewer employees and shorter hours at state parks, museums and other public facilities, and longer waits for driver’s license exams and other services.

You can read our full-length brief on the FY ’10 budget or updated 4-page fact sheet of the main appropriations numbers by clicking here.