OPEA

A $6.3 million dollar hole in the Department of Public Safety’s budget has drawn concern from the Oklahoma Public Employees Association which represents many of the employees of the agency. 

“The agency budget cut is $6.3 million dollars,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley.  “Our members are very concerned with the reports in the newspapers about furloughs.  OPEA is continuing to work with Representative Randy Terrill, the Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary) on alternatives.”

The Department of Public Safety is targeted to receive about $6.3 million less for fiscal year 2010 that starts July 1, compared with this fiscal year. The proposed $90.8 million budget, down from this year’s budget of $97.1 million, is part of the agreement announced last week by legislative leaders and the governor.

The department plans to make up the rest of the reduced appropriations by not holding a trooper academy, expected to cost about $3 million; not building a Troop K headquarters for the Perry and Pawnee areas, expected to cost about $1 million; and continuing to make administrative and expenditure cuts, with the aim to save about $1 million.

“OPEA has learned that an additional $2.5 million dollars has been identified for DPS that should allow them to make it through the next fiscal year without the threat of furloughs,” concluded Zearley.