By:
Dave Hamby
January 19, 2021 // Updated: January 20, 2021

OK Policy has announced its 2021 legislative priorities, focusing on policy initiatives to help Oklahomans live healthier, create thriving families, and develop safe communities. “Even before COVID-19 struck, far too many Oklahoma families and communities were struggling to provide and care for themselves and their families. The pandemic and its economic fallout exposed the enormous
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By:
Paul Shinn
December 18, 2020 // Updated: December 21, 2020

The State Board of Equalization provided the revenue certification that will serve as the basis for Oklahoma’s budget year that starts July 1, 2021 (FY 2022). The news was better than expected, but doesn’t suggest the state’s long-term budget slide is over.
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A new report from the Oklahoma Policy Institute — entitled “Plateaus and Cliff Effects in Oklahoma” — is among the first of its kind to examine how public supports and income interact to impact low-income Oklahomans.
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By:
Paul Shinn
June 2, 2020 // Updated: July 10, 2020

State agencies will be appropriated a total of $7.715 billion in FY 2021. This is a decrease of $283.2 million (3.5 percent) compared to the initial FY 2020 budget approved last May, and just $46 million (0.6 percent) above FY 2019 (see Figure 1).
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In collaboration with the Oklahoma Public Employees Association and with data provided by the state’s five major retirement systems, OK Policy has developed these interactive maps showing the impact retired public employees have in Oklahoma.
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By:
Paul Shinn
February 26, 2020 // Updated: February 27, 2020

We cannot save our way to better education, health, and economic outcomes. Prosperity comes from wise investments based on actual need.
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By:
Dave Hamby
January 31, 2020 // Updated: April 23, 2020

OK Policy has determined its focus areas for Oklahoma’s upcoming legislative session based on the organization’s original research, analysis, and feedback from state residents.
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By:
Paul Shinn
June 6, 2019 // Updated: September 26, 2019

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.
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Strong oil and gas tax collections, due in substantial part to lawmakers’ willingness in 2017 and 2018 to restore the gross production tax to higher rates, are a major contributor to the state’s fiscal health.
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By:
Paul Shinn
May 29, 2019 // Updated: July 2, 2019

Overall, it's best to think of this budget as a second step on what needs to be a long journey. When adjusted for inflation, this budget is still 10.1 percent below the FY 2009 level. Over half of state agencies still have lower budgets than they did in FY 2009 without accounting for inflation.
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