Collected posts from Blogs at the University of Central Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Senate is the odd man out in state budget negotiations.
Gov. Kevin Stitt and House Speaker Charles McCall agree on a spending plan for fiscal year 2020, but Senate Republicans have introduced their own spending plan that mainly differs on funding for education and pay raises for state employees…
Gov. Kevin Stitt expects teachers and public education advocates will be pleased when they see the finalized state budget for the next fiscal year that could emerge as early as next week.
Stitt, in a news conference Thursday, said he’s holding firm to his commitment to offer $1,200 across-the-board pay raises to Oklahoma teachers…
The Senate confirmation hearing for Gov. Kevin Stitt’s pick for budget secretary turned into a showdown Wednesday over the budget and other issues.
At one point, Senate Appropriations Chairman Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, gaveled down budget secretary nominee Mike Mazzei…
We’re getting close to the end of the legislative session, and we’re in the final stages of state budget negotiations. As chairman of the Education Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee, it’s been my job to help prioritize spending for common education, higher education and CareerTech as well as other areas under the education umbrella.
My . . .
Rep. Avery Frix (R-Muskogee) wants to increase monthly payments to retired teachers, firefighters, peace officers, judges and other state employees. Called a “cost of living adjustment,” a COLA for pensions would be authorized under Frix’s HB 2304, which advanced through committee Wednesday.
The Oklahoma Legislature will have nearly $575 million more to spend in the next fiscal year than it had for this year.
After years of budget holes and failures, there’s no way that is not excellent news…
The Board of Equalization, chaired by Governor J. Kevin Stitt, on Wednesday certified $8,249,071,274 in revenues for FY 2020 appropriations, which is $574.5 million, or 7.5 percent, more than was appropriated for FY 2019.This amount is $37.8 million, or 0.5 percent, less than the December estimate.
All major tax categories . . .
State finance officials say revenue collections to Oklahoma’s main state operating fund continue to outpace the official estimate, but they warn of a slowdown in coming months.
The Office of Management and Enterprise Services released figures on Tuesday that show General Revenue Fund collections in January totaled $714 million, which is nearly . . .
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s first budget proposes spending $400 million in new money on education, criminal justice reform and other priorities, while setting aside $200 million from the projected surplus to pad the state savings account.
Stitt, whose budget will be presented on Monday as the Oklahoma Legislature begins a new session, offers more transparency . . .
State officials expect fewer additional dollars than what was certified in December.
The Board of Equalization in December indicated the state would have $612 million more to spend in fiscal year 2020. The Board of Equalization will meet again later this month to take another look and certify what lawmakers will have to spend…