House Committee Advances Budget “Plan B,” Agency Cuts And Cash
Committees narrowly advance budget cut bill
by Dale Denwalt
Oklahoma House and Senate lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday that strips millions from state agency budgets and raids several other government accounts.
As it crosses each chambers’ floor this week, the legislation leaves politicians at the Capitol with moral, ethical and fiduciary decisions as they try to fill a $215 million budget shortfall.
For example, the bill appropriates an emergency $30 million to the beleaguered Department of Health, which confirmed it won’t make the last round of November payroll if lawmakers don’t pass it by Friday.
County officials are worried that the proposed $30 million draw from a fund for county road and bridge improvement is more than what will be available to spend.