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…
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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…
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By:
Gene Perry
May 17, 2018 // Updated: June 6, 2019
[Download this report as a PDF.]
The FY 2019 budget increases funding significantly from recent years.
State agencies will be appropriated a total of $7.567 billion in FY 2019. This is an increase of $718.5 million (10.5 percent) compared to…
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In the 1960s, the New York City poet and folksinger Richard Fariña published a novel titled “Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me.” This title certainly applies to Oklahoma’s FY 2019 state budget, approved by the House…
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Lawmakers this year have approved over half a billion in new taxes to pay for a package of spending measures, including increased pay for teachers, support staff, and state workers, and increased operating support for schools. While the new obligations…
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By:
David Blatt
February 28, 2018 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Earlier this month, HB 1033xx, the main revenue measure based on proposals from the Step Up Oklahoma coalition, failed to gain the three-quarters support in the House needed to pass a revenue bill. Unlike a similar measure that failed in…
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By:
David Blatt
November 1, 2017 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Last week, lawmakers’ attempt to address the state budget crisis in special session collapsed. They rejected proposals that would have filled the entire budget hole and averted imminent and catastrophic cuts to the three health care and social service agencies —…
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By:
Gene Perry
May 19, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
At the state Capitol, lawmakers remain deadlocked over how to find enough revenue to avoid crippling budget scenarios. The main barrier appears to be legislative leadership’s refusal to allow a vote on removing huge tax breaks for oil and gas producers. On…
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By:
Gene Perry
January 25, 2016 // Updated: May 2, 2019
On January 28th, OK Policy’s annual State Budget Summit will include a keynote presentation on “The Failed Kansas Experiment.” In 2012, Kansas enacted major income tax cuts and totally eliminated the personal income tax for owners of certain businesses. Kansas…
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By:
Guest
February 23, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
This article originally appeared in State Treasurer Ken Miller’s monthly newsletter, the Oklahoma Economic Report.
At the dawn of a new legislative session, current government expenses once again exceed expected revenues and agencies are lining up with $2 billion in…
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