Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin
Correction A Tuesday Tulsa World story incorrectly stated the amount of Oklahoma's proposed state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget is $6.8 billion. This story has been corrected.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Top state leaders announced a standstill state budget Monday with no new funding for public schools.
The $6.8 billion budget is 3.13 percent higher than last year's budget, but when the cost of financing a road bond issue that was included in last year's spending plan is taken out, the increase is only 0.32 percent.
"The targeted increases we are pursuing will help to improve child welfare services, repair structurally deficient bridges, increase access to health care in rural areas, and boost resources for public safety," Gov. Mary Fallin said in a news release.
While public school funding won't increase next year, the budget includes $52.4 million to fund teacher flexible health care benefits and merit bonuses for teachers who achieve national board certification - areas that required supplemental appropriations this year.
The biggest single budget hike is a $50 million increase for the Department of Human Services, including funding for the first year of court-ordered improvements for children in state care.
Top legislative Republican leaders said the budget represents conservative fiscal restraint during a challenging economic period.
"Oklahomans deserve a conservative budget that reflects our values," said Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa.
The budget does not include funding for state bond issues, but legislative committees are planning to take up three bond deals Tuesday afternoon: $200 million for repairs to the state Capitol complex, $40 million for the Native American Cultural Center in Oklahoma City and $20 million for a popular culture museum in downtown Tulsa, said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville.
Tulsa museum backers had asked for $42.5 million.
No funding to service those bond issues should be needed this year, said Senate Appropriations Chairman Clark Jolley, R-Edmond.
The budget transfers $180 million in the Economic Development Generating Excellence Fund - a state endowment to fund high-tech research that will develop high-paying jobs - to the state higher education budget to be used to fund a backlog of endowed chairs. Private funds for the professorships were awaiting state matching funds.
The budget includes money to keep the state on track to fund its multiyear transportation building plan, including money to pay for a bond-financed fund transfer last year.
Another $3 million in the budget will fund uninsured care at the Tisdale Specialty Health Clinic
The state Department of Veterans Affairs, which has been criticized for poor care, will receive $1 million to increase the nursing staff at state veterans centers and reduce staff-to-patient ratios.
The budget also includes $3 million to pay for the state's share of a plan to increase the number of medical residencies in the state.
The budget leaves about $32 million on the table to fund plans for a state personal income tax cut that was announced last week, said Jolley.
The budget is largely incorporated in Senate Bill 1975, the general appropriations bill.
Democrats attacked the budget as insufficient, especially for public schools.
"When you look at where common education funding was in 2009 and compare it to the proposed budget, we've seen state-appropriated dollars decrease by more than $200 million," said Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, Senate minority leader.
Higher education and vo-tech funding also are substantially down from 2009 levels, Burrage said.
"The Legislature is failing its citizens," Burrage said.
Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Keith Ballard also slammed the spending plan.
"If it's true that there's no new funding for common education, I think it is appalling," Ballard said. "The governor and legislative leaders are abandoning Oklahoma children in the name of an income tax cut.
"It all seems illogical to me," Ballard said. "At a time when revenue is pouring back into our state, there should be consideration given to Oklahoma's children. They are not funding core services."
Wayne Greene 918-581-8308
wayne.greene@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Proposed budget has no increase for schools
