Topic: Budget & Tax

Budget outlook offers opportunities, but challenges remain

By: David Blatt
January 10, 2019 // Updated: May 1, 2019
After a decade of ongoing shortfalls and repeated cuts to core services, Oklahoma’s finances are finally in recovery. Revenues are growing and lawmakers are expected to have substantially more money for next year’s budget, according to initial projections that were… Read more [More...]

Court ruling gives Oklahoma the chance to fully fix online tax problem

By: David Blatt
October 23, 2018 // Updated: May 2, 2019
As online commerce has grown into an ever-increasing share of the U.S. economy, Oklahoma and other states have struggled with the problem of lost tax revenue from untaxed sales. A major Supreme Court ruling this past June, combined with actions… Read more [More...]

New analysis: Low-income taxpayers in Oklahoma pay more than twice the tax rate paid by the richest Oklahomans

By: Gene Perry
October 17, 2018 // Updated: May 2, 2019
While Oklahoma has a reputation as a low tax state, poor and middle-income Oklahomans are actually paying a greater share of their income in taxes than the national average, while the richest 5 percent of households — with annual incomes… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma’s revenue growth is welcome but not a windfall (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
October 8, 2018 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. Those who rely on state funding to provide services to Oklahomans heard more good news this week… Read more [More...]

With SQ 800, Oklahoma voters to decide on saving fossil fuel revenues in a long-term endowment

By: David Blatt
September 26, 2018 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Oklahoma will begin to set aside a portion of future oil and gas revenues for a new reserve fund if voters approve State Question 800 in November. SQ 800 creates a new trust fund known as the Oklahoma Vision Fund in… Read more [More...]

The official SQ 780 savings calculation rests on flawed assumptions

By: Ryan Gentzler
September 6, 2018 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Two years ago, Oklahoma voters passed State Questions 780 and 781, together known as the Smart Justice Reform Act. SQ 780 reclassified simple drug possession and many low-level property crimes as misdemeanors rather than felonies. SQ 781 directs the Office of… Read more [More...]

State Question 800: New Reserve Fund for Oil and Gas Revenue

By: Jessica Vazquez
September 3, 2018 // Updated: May 1, 2019
State Question 800 will be on the ballot on November 6, 2018. Download this fact sheet as a PDF or download all five State Questions as a single PDF. Visit our 2018 State Questions and Elections page for more information on Oklahoma ballot measures and elections. … Read more [More...]

The state budget is growing but is not fully recovered

By: David Blatt
August 23, 2018 // Updated: May 1, 2019
As Oklahoma heads into a new budget year and closes the books on FY 2018, two things are especially clear: Oklahoma’s fiscal situation is much improved, but we still have a long ways to go to recover from a decade… Read more [More...]

With revenue growing again, can Oklahoma make up for a lost decade? (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
July 9, 2018 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. According to State Treasurer Ken Miller, gross receipts to the state treasury during FY-18 were at an… Read more [More...]

What we know – and don’t know – about the revenue bill veto challenge

By: David Blatt
May 23, 2018 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In late March, on the eve of an anticipated teacher walk-out, Oklahoma lawmakers approved a series of bills intended to provide pay raises for teachers, school support staff, and state employees. To pay for the raises, lawmakers approved a number… Read more [More...]