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Budget Deal Could Be Close

 

As the legislature and Governor continue to work to reach agreement on a state budget, it appears that they may be getting close. It does not look good for state services and employees. What we are hearing around the capitol is that state agencies could be facing a 12 percent cut in their budgets.

 

What does that mean? It means that state services will be cut to the bone; there will be reductions-in-force, furloughs, and additional VOBOs. It will mean that there will be fewer correctional officers, fewer child welfare workers, and fewer adult protective service workers. It means that more families will go un-served or under served in our Department of Human Service offices, fewer beds for the mentally ill or those suffering from substance abuse. It will mean that state schools such as the School for the Blind or the School for the Deaf, or one of the resource centers in Pauls Valley or Enid could be shut down.

 

 

OPEA is working closely with legislators to ensure that these things do not happen. We are meeting and discussing what the impact is not only to state services but the economy of the state of Oklahoma. OPEA has presented a case for state service, but now is the time for ALL state employees to also join the fight with OPEA. Common and Higher Education take 55 percent of the state's budget, if they do not take their fair share of the budget cuts, other state services, which only take 45 percent of the budget, will shoulder all the cuts. This could be devastating to state services. State employees cannot and should not allow this to happen.

 

You have got to pick up the phone today and call your State Senator and State Representative and tell them to “Share the Burden”, ensure that traditional state services are not the only ones that should be cut but that education much shoulder their part of the budget crisis. If education is held harmless the 12 percent cuts will stick, if they pick up their share of the cuts, we will not see as drastic cuts in other state services and jobs can and will be saved, families will receive the assistance they need, and inmates will be guarded.

 

OPEA is fighting to protect your jobs and hopefully we will have some success but it also requires work on your part. Help your Association Help you and call today!!!

 

To go to the OPEA Political Action Center for legislative contact information click here and follow the "Take Action " instructions under "Last Chance to Make a Difference."

 

Posted on Wed, May 12, 2010 by Trish Frazier

4 comments (Add your own)

1. Kris wrote:
Governor Henry does not care about state services, he wants to protect the education system for his wife so she can have a job when he gets out of office. He is not in a publicity mode since he will not be running for any office this year. State workers suck it up, we service aged, blind, disabled, low-income, poor citizens that most people look down upon. Our job is not glorified enought for our govenor and legislatures to appreciate what we do day in and day out. We have a thankless job. We have had to endure to much over the past several years, we fight hard, just very few at the state capital is willing to listen to us.

Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 5:30 PM

2. Jack wrote:
I have called my Senator and Represenative ( both are Democrats) I am told the Republicans are in charge and we can't do anything. Well I for one can do something and that is vote against them during the upcoming elections. I encourage everyone to contact the legislature members and demand that education take their fair share of budget cuts as well. This is not right, it is not fair, not only does education get 55 percent of the budget but they also get lottery money as well. The more you give them the greddiern they get. Consolidate small schools ( those with under 300 students) see how much money they would save. I do think education is important but how many times and how much burden should be put on the backs of state employees. enough is enough.

Thu, May 13, 2010 @ 11:33 AM

3. George wrote:
We have talked to 2 Senators and 3 Representatives, 2 are Republicans and 3 are Democrats, you get the same story from all 5, they are left totally out of the process according to them. The Appropriations Chair along with Benge and Coffee are running the show. If that's the way we are going to start doing business at the Capitol what use is it to even elect these people. It's a dog and pony show and I don't even know if I'm the dog or the pony anymore but someone is sure riding me....

Thu, May 13, 2010 @ 3:00 PM

4. tom dunning wrote:
A representative told me that he supports the "share the burden" approach, and that he wished he could say the same for the speaker of the house. If so, for agencies to be spared a brutal SFY '11, the speaker needs to be convinced to "share the burden" otherwise the appropriations to state agencies will be worse than expected.

Fri, May 14, 2010 @ 8:08 AM

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