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Agency Budget Cut Rumors Swirl Around the Capitol

 

OPEA has learned today that agency cuts are being considered to offset the gloomy budget numbers adopted by the Board of Equalization. 

 

“The talk in the halls of the legislature is that state agencies are being looked at for budget cuts,” said OPEA Deputy Director Scott Barger.  “There has been no consensus on the number or whether the cuts will be just for some targeted agencies, but we have a very uneasy feeling that this signals a bad trend early in session.”

 

OPEA is concerned those discussions about agency cuts are very premature and that other avenues of funding could be utilized.

 

“There are many options for squeezing the budget and we want to make sure that the legislature is considering all the options before deciding upon an old, worn out model,’ said Barger.  “The one thing that seems to be constant at the Capitol is that Oklahoma is quick to balance the budget on the backs of state employees.”

 

OPEA is also concerned about the rising price of fuel.

 

“Gasoline prices have jumped over 20 cents in the past four weeks, according to AAA Oklahoma.  The state’s average for self-serve gasoline now stands at $3.02 per gallon,” Barger said.  “While this signals that crude prices are beginning to increase, which is good for Oklahoma and its budget situation, state employees who have to pay more at the pump are being hurt most of all.”

 

Barger believes there is a solution for the budget shortfall.

 

“OPEA hopes that legislative leaders would look to the Constitutional Reserve Fund before considering cutting state agencies,” he said.

 

Posted on Wed, February 27, 2008 by Bud Elder

7 comments (Add your own)

1. Hmmmm. wrote:
Wonder how much the State of Oklahoma would save if they took back last year's Teacher pay raise?

Wed, February 27, 2008 @ 4:08 PM

2. This is getting ridiculous!!! wrote:
They won't do nothing to touch what the teachers want or need! It always fall on the State Employees! They always think we can suffer and struggle with our families. Everyone needs to start thinking about quiting!!!
They won't look at the Teachers to see what to take away from them. Its always Us!!

Same old record being played again!! Balance the budget on the State Employees. Its already getting tight in our building we are being watched how much paper we use. Don't print nothing on paper.

The City is talking about making all these improvements to bring in a NBA Team but our State is so POOR we can't do nothing for our State Employees. I know no state employees won't be able to afford tickets to an NBA game or anything else.

Wed, February 27, 2008 @ 4:38 PM

3. wrote:
This has become the standard for all business: Budget is too tight, lay off workers. This has become the standard business model since the '80's. I grew up in Bartlesville during the T-Boon Pickens take over attempt of Phillips. That event seemed to set a bad presedence for our state, and all other forms of business as well. Unfortunantly, I believe that lay-offs ("charmingly" referred to as RIFs) have become too simple a solution, requiring no thought.

Actually, at our last staff meeting in our office, we were warned that RIFs might occur if raises were implemented.

Thu, February 28, 2008 @ 9:13 AM

4. Tom wrote:
State employees need to pay attention to how their legislators vote on bills concerning state employees. Maybe we don't need them representing us anymore.
We have waited long enough and have been passed over each year for long enough.
Now we're talking budget crunch again. Sounds to me like the legislators are setting us up to pass over us again. How long are we going to keep taking the same old excuses. Pass the teachers over this time!!
We need to e-mail, mail, phone, or however contact our legislators and let them know it is our turn for pay raises, but not at the expense of our benefit allowance.

Thu, February 28, 2008 @ 2:29 PM

5. wrote:
Could they budget cut the Senate? Maybe they need to look at where they can save money at the Capital for all these upper level people. Heck, we can't even get new furniture, same old stuff since around the mid-70's. But by all means let's fix the pool at the Governor's mansion instead of draining and closing it down. Sorry to rant, but at some point your working people NEED to be the focus of attention instead of luxury and status quo things that people get to see.

Fri, February 29, 2008 @ 10:51 AM

6. wrote:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/itemsofinterest/statepayroll/statepayroll.aspx

go to above websight and look at the salaries for just the secrataries at the House and Senate. That would be a good place to save some money. The switchboard operator makes more than a Social Services Specialist!

Tue, March 4, 2008 @ 10:34 AM

7. wrote:
If Clifton Scott can get his years of state employee service counted as though he spent all those years in elected state service, and retire with an INCREASED retirement benefit then there is enough money for all state employees to get a DECENT pay raise. If the legislature had to live on a state employee's salary and benefits, then maybe they'd think about giving us more money more often.

How many raises have they had in the last 7-8 years? Teachers got 5 raises in 5 years. State employees got 2 in 7 or 8 years. We work ALL YEAR for our money! Teachers and Legislators do not work all year for their money!

We used to get Cost-of-Living-Adjustments (COLA) almost every year back in the late 70's/early 80's. What happened to make this go away?

How many other groups of people (besides elected politicians) make MORE in retirement?

Wed, March 5, 2008 @ 10:16 AM

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