OKLAHOMA CITY (May 1, 2009) – The Oklahoma Public Employees Association is calling on the legislature to immediately implement a mandatory plan to cut costs in state agencies and preserve vital state services. OPEA’s action is the result of a darkening state budget picture for the next fiscal year which begins July 1, 2009.
OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley called on all state agencies to conserve funds to meet challenges ahead. With the budget shortfall, legislators are discussing agency budget cuts that could be as high as eight percent.
“Any discretionary spending should be frozen across state government, including education, contracts and travel,” said Zearley.
“In these challenging economic times, Oklahomans will need state services even more. We must carefully examine budgets to ensure that services remain intact. The unemployed need help finding jobs, veterans and the disabled will continue to require care, and citizens must be protected from disease and pathogens in food and water.
“This is a good time to review contracts to see if some services can be performed in-house at lower cost,” continued Zearley. “Travel, which is not essential to services, should also be cut. Higher education alone spends millions in travel. This may be the year to pass on conferences and move funds to higher priorities.
“As usual, state employees will continue to do more with less,” concluded Zearley. “Already, workers are carrying heavy caseloads, using antiquated equipment, and working in offices and facilities built at the beginning of the last century.”
Oklahoma Public Employees Association (www.opea.org) is a non-profit labor organization that has represented the interests of state employees at the capitol in Oklahoma since 1975.
###
Posted on
Fri, May 1, 2009
by Mark Beutler