Tulsa World: Oklahoma governor lays out plan to address budget woes

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Oklahoma governor lays out plan to address budget woes

Governor Brad Henry. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World File

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published: 11/17/2009 2:32 PM
Last Modified: 11/17/2009 5:41 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Brad Henry on Tuesday put out a three-point plan to address the state's budget challenges.

State agencies have been told they will continue to take at least 5 percent monthly cuts through the end of June due to declining state revenue.

Henry's plan calls for including an updated, more reliable state revenue estimate, public hearings on budget reductions and a possible special session to use reserve funds and implement targeted cuts to balance the budget.

The state's Rainy Day fund has about $600 million in it.

Ultimate budget decisions will hinge on revenue estimates delivered at the December State Board of Equalization meeting.

"While some are advocating deeper across-the-board cuts, I believe it's critical to do our homework first and understand what will happen if we do," Henry said. "Ultimately, I believe a targeted approach is the best with strategic, surgical cuts that protect priority areas. Deeper, across-the-board cuts will paralyze core services and jeopardize approximately $1.2 billion in stimulus funds in the process."

After a new revenue estimate is issued in late December and legislative hearings answer all pertinent budget questions, Henry said he will discuss the merits of a January special session with legislative leaders.

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Henry tackles state budget woes," which was published on 11/18/2009. So far, 30 comments have been made.