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State Leaders Reach Budget Agreement

 

Friday afternoon, state leaders finally reached a budget agreement, one week before the end of session.  The agreement protects some functions of government, including health, veterans, corrections, Medicaid, transportation, education, and human services.

 

“The larger agencies providing direct services were flat-lined or received small increases,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley.  “The remainder of the agencies received up to a seven percent cut.”

 

“At this time, we believe the majority of state employees will be protected from reductions-in-force (RIFs) and furloughs,” continued Zearley.  “The federal stimulus funds will be making up for some of the deficits.”

 

“State employees have been calling legislators to protect their jobs as public servants and the services they provide to Oklahomans,” concluded Zearley.  “We appreciate legislators hearing our members concerns and minimizing cuts in these difficult economic times.”

To view the spreadsheet of agency appropriations click here.



 

Posted on Fri, May 15, 2009 by Trish Frazier

16 comments (Add your own)

1. Tom Dunning wrote:
interesting that office of state finance was held harmless with no cuts.....

Fri, May 15, 2009 @ 7:28 PM

2. Unhappy wrote:
From looking at the spreadsheet, it would appear that DHS took a $9.3 million dollar cut. I can't see how with a cut that large that people won't be losing their jobs. DHS is already a huge scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in our state. How in the world are we going to effectively do our jobs with less money, less resources, and increasing caseloads?

Sun, May 17, 2009 @ 2:43 PM

3. sad wrote:
look at the dept of mental health,they got a cut of over 4 million dollars. guess what people no raises and hello to overtime or a second job for me.

Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 7:40 AM

4. JOHNNYONETIME wrote:
Any Word on Workforce OK people?

Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 9:28 AM

5. Medical Insurance wrote:
Would it be possible for the Employee Benefits Counsel with the support of the legislature to negotiate for lower medical insurance rates? I mean, my God....I am paying over $600 / month just to carry medical insurance. Seems to me the medical insurance companies could half that and provide the same level of care! Seems to me we could be doing a lot better in this area; which could save the State a ton of money.

Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 9:28 AM

6. Rick A wrote:
I agree unhappy. When does it stop? You get budget cuts, hiring frezzes, more added to your case load etc, etc, etc.. I believe it all stops when state employees organize and put thier feet down and say,"ENOUGH". State employees can change how they are being undervalued. Simply join OPEA, contact your legislator and vote educatedly and smartly. Put legislators in place that understand who they are working for. Pass the word. Lets make "CHANGE".

Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 10:44 AM

7. * wrote:
i noticed DHS took the largest hit in terms of actual dollars. DPS (highway patrol, lake patrol, capitol police, etc) took the second largest.

So our legislature isn't concerned with the safety and wellbeing of it's citizens it would seem.

Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 10:55 AM

8. johnny one time wrote:
any word on the workforce ok people?

Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 11:33 AM

9. johnny wrote:
any word on layoffs for workforce ok

Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 11:34 AM

10. FattCatt wrote:
Unhappy,

All I can say is "Lobby Day 2010" make plans now to be there.
They wont take us seriously until we get organized...you know like the teachers did.


>*x*<

Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 1:19 PM

11. Old and Tired wrote:
If "all" state employees would determine to make a difference when they vote on the legislators we have, then we might see some change. Until then, education will always win the biggest piece of the pie. I am sure OU and OSU really need a 3.0% increase (I smell pay raises for them) while the rest of us have to suffer with budget cuts, higher caseloads, and higher insurance. People can't afford to retire because of insurance rates, so on we work -- unappreciated, unnoticed unless mistakes are made, and worse off each and every passing year. I'd just like a small raise so I can feed my family or pay next year's insurance increases. Something has got to change!

Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 3:32 PM

12. FattCatt wrote:
I think this whole thing is a lot of smoke and mirrors…we want a raise and then the Legislators threaten us with furloughs and RIF’s so, we will all be grateful to have a job.

When millions of dollars of stimulus money were sent to help improve roads the one would think that it would free up money for ODOT and would help make up for any budget shortfall…where did all this money go!

OPEA needs to try something different for Lobby Day. Being people are attending Lobby Day at their lunch time it would be helpful if some kind of lunch be offered, everyone still need to have lunch. Pizza is easy or those big sandwiches’ from Sam’s…hell the hot dogs OPEA served for the Employee Appreciation day was a big hit.

I would be willing to help with the cost if it got more people to Lobby Day…and I really do think it would get more people there. I know this seems like a bribe to get people to Lobby Day but, in my opinion it is a necessity because we all still need to eat lunch to.

State employees must come together and get organized or nothing will ever change and the Legislators will continue to disrespect us and threaten our jobs.

“LOBBY DAY 2010”

>*X*<

Tue, May 19, 2009 @ 10:55 AM

13. Patriot wrote:
"I think this whole thing is a lot of smoke and mirrors…we want a raise and then the Legislators threaten us with furloughs and RIF’s so, we will all be grateful to have a job."

There could be something to that FattCatt. I believe last year when the legislature floated the idea of making us pay into our insurance it was to detract us from not getting a raise and to make people think we won something.

OPEA needs to get more aggressive and in legislators faces. For years this state had oil money running out of its ears and we weren't given a raise. We have got to get a yearly cost of living increase in place. I could understand not getting a raise this year if I'd gotten one since 2005. Many private sector areas give their people a cost of living increase each year.

I'm tired of the passive attitude OPEA has.

Wed, May 20, 2009 @ 10:48 AM

14. FattCatt wrote:
Patriot,

I to would like to see OPEA get more aggressive but, they do as much as they can. The problem is out of approximately 30,000 state employees only 10,000 are members of OPEA thus it’s a little hard to chew on Legislators butt with two thirds of your teeth missing.
Even at that, the next problem is getting state employees to Lobby Day the one day we get to speak out and stand up for ourselves…and you do not have to be a member of OPEA to participate.
This last Lobby Day less than 100 out 30,000 employees showed up.
Bottom line OPEA can’t get more aggressive right now because there is just not enough state employee support. They have to attract more flys with honey rather than, giving the Legislators a bunch crap about what they are not doing for state employees.

Not until we get organized and give OPEA some teeth state employees will always get the short end of the stick.

“I'm not taking the abuse again in 2010!”

>*x*<

Thu, May 21, 2009 @ 11:46 AM

15. On the other hand wrote:
Re getting out for lobby day 2009 - I got the notice when it would be held on Friday night before it was held the next Tuesday. I could not get off, or plan my work to be off, on that short a notice. We need more notice for lobby day so that we can be sure to get off. Also, we still have to provide coverage, so some folks just can't come. We can't shut down state government for rally day (or can we?).

Thu, May 21, 2009 @ 2:36 PM

16. Kevin wrote:
On the Other Hand...how much notice do you need? I started hearing about Lobby Day last Christmas! Is three months not enough time to plan?

Fri, May 22, 2009 @ 3:38 PM

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