While there will be no personal income tax cut in the next state budget, lawmakers reached a budget deal on Wednesday worth nearly $13 billion. This year’s budget negotiations were held in public, becoming one of the most open budgeting processes in Oklahoma legislative history. It also got heated at times creating concerns.
During the previous two budget meetings, negotiations broke down.
On Wednesday, Governor Kevin Stitt re-entered the negotiations which a proposal to drop the tax cut and a promise not to veto the budget, if he had four of his priorities met. Those included a frame work to begin setting up business courts in Oklahoma, limiting a judicial pay increase for district judges, $20 million for the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund, and keeping the State-Tribal Litigation Fund intact.
Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat and House Speaker Charles McCall were both agreeable to adding that to what would become the final discussions to cross the finish line before the constitutional deadline.
Once the House and Senate reconciled their numbers the handshakes and pats on the back began.
“I am proud of how this process played out in a transparent manner. It has been contentious, stressful and at times combative. But it is the legislative process that has historically been behind closed doors, never available to public view. For the first time, Oklahomans were able to see how these meetings happen behind the scenes,” said Treat who opened up the Senate budgeting process by holding subcommittee hearings which allowed members to dive into agency budget requests.
McCall also struck a congratulatory note.
“Throughout the budget process I have empowered the House negotiating team to negotiate a budget on behalf of our body and the Oklahomans we represent,” Speaker McCall said.
“Today’s budget agreement with the Senate is the culmination of those robust negotiations, and I want to applaud the hard work of our House negotiating team and budget staff for getting this across the finish line. The House showed our commitment to transparency and good faith throughout the process, and we are thankful that a deal was reached.”
Among the new initiatives and programs being funded in the next fiscal year, $240 million for new engineering and science facilities at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority will receiving an additional $30 million to increase long-term care provider rates, and $74 million to complete the Department of Public Safety’s new training facility located in Lincoln County.
Democrat leaders did not participate directly in the negotiations. They also see some areas lacking.
“We will never stop demanding better for the people of Oklahoma. We’re ready to support a budget if it solves the problems Oklahomans are facing every day and puts people over politics. Oklahomans want education funded for success for our kids, timely access to mental health care, and ethics systems that hold our elected officials accountable if they break the rules. What we’ve seen from the budget so far, these challenges are not yet being addressed,” said Senator Julia Kirt, who is the incoming Senate Minority Leader.
“By keeping the Democratic Leaders out of the public budget discussion process, issues important to Oklahomans have not been prioritized, such as affordable and accessible childcare, addressing hunger by providing free school lunches to students across our state, and investing in health care to ensure people can access physicians and the care they need. Instead, we have observed Republican infighting, which unnecessarily prolonged the budget process. Now the process is being rushed, which does not give legislators, stakeholders, or the public enough time to fully understand the budget and know how our tax dollars will be spent. In the future, we need to work together on bipartisan solutions that address real challenges in our state and benefit all Oklahoma families,” said House Minority Leader Representative Cyndi Munson.
The House and Senate will begin putting together the bills which will make up the budget package. They must complete the work by May 31.
