Posted on 12/24/2009 8:54:22 AM PST by dragnet2
Oklahoma has the unwanted distinction of having the largest revenue shortfall of any state, according to a new report.
That reality is illustrated by the state's revenue collections, which are down by more than 25 percent from a year ago.
The state last week ordered yet another round of cuts, this time instructing agencies to cut 10 percent from their budgets.
A November state budget report by the National Conference of State Legislatures says Oklahoma's 18.5 percent shortfall for the current fiscal year edges out Arizona's 18 percent, with Illinois in third at 16.5 percent.
State agencies appeared to be taken by surprise by the 10 percent reduction. Departments have been putting workers on furlough and cutting services to cope with the 5 percent reduction.
Lauri Monetti, a Department of Human Services spokeswoman, said the additional cuts threaten programs that have been protected to this point because of the federal matching money they attract.
She said cuts in one-time expenditures will likely be made first. She said the “effect will be more significant” if the negative trend in revenue doesn't reverse soon.
The prison system, which is more reliant on state general fund revenue than most departments, is still analyzing the situation.
Corrections Department spokesman Jerry Massie said the agency has already had a round of early retirements and is running furloughs. The department work force is at three-quarters of its authorized strength.
Nobody from Arkansas has the right to make fun of anybody from Oklahoma. My relatives were smart enough to get out during the Taft administration.
A jerk? Yes. Entertaining? I hope so. Left wing? Nope.
parsy, the progressive conservative
Whew, I’m sure glad you didn’t see what I posted over on the “Oklahoma is Broke” thread.
parsy, the sensitive
LOL!!
“””Oklahoma Has Biggest Deficit Among States”””
What you advocate violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
Oooopps! This is the thread.
parsy, who is running for cover
Don’t know about the others, but in Arizona it is happening because we’re coming away from six years of Big Sis Napolitano’s governorship. She spent like a drunk freshman with daddy’s credit card and now the state legislature is in gridlock trying to cut the budget. She screwed AZ over like a lesbian with a big rubber toy before she left for Obama’s pastures.
Arkansas state motto: "At least we're not Louisiana"
I suspicion that you suspicion correctly.
Congratulations! You got your parole!
Martial, who says the only reason Arkansas is a state is 'cause they got tired of cutting Arkansas shaped holes out of maps of the USA.
A progressive conservative is an oxymoron. To describe you, just drop the oxy. You have no respect for the United States Constitution, which is the greatest document ever authored. Why do you place so much faith in government, which is a neccessary evil at best.
Violate the 14th Amendment? No. Women can still vote.
parsy, who thinks you have to tax what you have a lot of, and since Oklahoma has a lot of Rednecks and crazy women. . .
I know the truth is hard to deal with, especially this time of year. But try your best and buck up.
Actually, its “Thank God for Mississippi!” We seem to be 49th in most stuff, except illegitimate babies and mercenaries where I think we lead the nation.
parsy, who is moving temporarily to the happiest state in the USA on Sunday
Pols understand only money and power. Voters understand you cant vote them out of positions of power. Once in they will buy votes to stay in.
The alternative is to cut off the money. So sit on your wallet America. Drain the trough and the pigs will die.
"Some of these boards are highly paid, earning salaries of more than $100,000 a year for only a few meetings . . . boards and commissions . . . often have permanent staffs, pay rent, or create other costs for the state . . . Within the executive branch of state government, there are more than 300 boards, commissions, panels, task forces, committees and other appointed bodies . . . When state goals are pursued through un-elected boards and commissions, government is less accountable . . . state government has no master list of all boards and commissions and the thousands of political appointees that populate them."
Why not scrap all these stupid boards and commissions .. no, wait. Uh.. did they say political appointees? Never mind. We have to keep all these hundreds of boards and commissions. Out-of-office / out-of-work political hacks need the money.
Along with services for ILLEGAL aliens these boards and commissions will be the last to be cut.
Don’t patronize me! I know what Oxymoron is. I got some off the TV before Billy Mays died. It really does get the stains out.
parsy, who dribbles food on his clothes a lot
Uh, parsy, there's been a mixup. That was 'sposed to read "gayest".
Martial, who says don't drop the soap.
Only when the rest of America reaches this level of contempt for government, will something be done, at which point government's power and authority will reduced in size and scope in a very dramatic way. Until that time, expect government to continue to grow and become more controlling and intrusive.
No, really. They did this big study and Louisiana is the happiest state. I prefer to stay in Arkansas, but I am going to live in my mommies basement for a while and try to get my health back. On the good side, I will be able to post more stuff on FR!
parsy, is going to miss the raccoons and birds
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