EDMOND — Oklahoma families have been dealing with the current economic downturn the way they have for a century: tightening their belts and getting rid of unnecessary spending in order to make ends meet. Oklahomans expect that their state government would do the same.
But as we find out, that may not be the case. Records show that 29 of the top 36 administrators at the Department of Human Services received raises in the past year ranging from just more than $100 a month to nearly $2,000 per month. These raises came during a time when headlines were dominated by bailouts, foreclosures and worries about a recession leading to another Great Depression.
How are taxpayers to believe that cuts in services can’t be avoided when they hear about raises being given during a period of declining revenue? State Treasurer Scott Meacham has been warning agencies since January to expect budget cuts. By handing out raises, agencies increase their base costs, forcing cuts to come from services. Just as bad from the public perception is that state agencies are now making budget requests for next year that include huge increases even though they know the state will have even less money to work with.
Not only are some salaries going up, state government also is increasing the number of workers. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reports that state government added 1,300 jobs between September of 2008 and September of 2009. Health services is the only other job category to increase during that same time period.
State lawmakers have their hands tied when it comes to how agencies spend the money. Once a budget is passed, each agency decides how to spend the money it gets. But more should be done in the budgeting process to make sure that agencies are spending properly in the first place. Every agency budget should be gone over with a fine-toothed comb to find areas of savings. Taxpayers should demand that their elected officials scrutinize every agency’s budget and question every expenditure before another dime is spent at the state Capitol. U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn is providing this type of leadership in Congress and Oklahoma lawmakers should follow his lead here at home.
Because of revenue shortfalls, lawmakers will be pressured to use the Rainy Day Fund for the current budget year. With stimulus dollars unavailable in 2012, it’s important that lawmakers do not deplete the Rainy Day Fund now.
Oklahoma families are saving wherever they can, but aren’t allowed to save on taxes that go to the state. Lawmakers must give them the satisfaction of knowing the tax dollars they are contributing are being put to use in the best possible way.
BRIAN DOWNS is the executive director of Oklahomans for Responsible Government. OFRG is a nonprofit taxpayer advocacy group dedicated to improving accountability, transparency and fiscal responsibility in state government. For more information, go online at www.ofrg.org.
Opinion
State needs some belt tightening
- Opinion
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
If you read any of the letters to the editor in the past two weeks regarding Tuesday’s District 2 Edmond school board race, then you already know that this election is not about the individual candidates so much as it’s about what type of school board do Edmond residents really want governing their school district?
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What are your presidential 10 Commandments?
As we brace for the upcoming presidential campaign, we should be honest about our responsibility in the process. Before we get pushed, pulled, bribed, frightened, bullied, flattered, fooled or charmed into voting for a candidate, let’s take a mature thoughtful look at what the profile of the president should look like. In order to do that, let’s do an exercise. Sit down with a pencil and paper and draft your proposal for the Ten Commandments to be obeyed by the president. Let me share some of my suggestions.
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What would Reagan do today in Oklahoma?
As we celebrated the 101st anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth on Feb. 6, several of us at Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs started discussing what Reagan might do today. Here are some of the ideas we came up with.
- LETTER: School counselor says Roy ready to help all students
- LETTER: Supporter calls Duncan 'a firecracker'
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Consequences of an overregulated nation
Overreaching government regulations are costing jobs and killing our economy. They are a heavy burden on our nation and its citizens — in some cases worse than our nation’s increasingly out-of-control debt.
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LETTER: Supporter: Duncan shows passion for children’s needs
To the Editor:
The families in the Edmond Public School District are fortunate to have Kathleen Duncan as their advocate on the Edmond Board of Education. Duncan has worked tirelessly for the welfare and benefit of the Edmond schools’ students. -
LETTER: Teacher supports Duncan’s re-election
To the Editor:
On Feb. 14 patrons of District 2 have an opportunity to re-elect the current president of the Edmond School Board, Kathleen Duncan. Duncan has served as a board member for 10 years. When people move to the Oklahoma City area, they buy a home here because of the exceptional quality of Edmond Public Schools. This speaks to Duncan’s goal of “Excellence in Education for All Edmond Public School Students.” -
LETTER: Supporter: Duncan understands diverse issues
To the Editor:
Kathleen Duncan understands the diverse issues that effect our schools. She carefully studies the district’s issues and works tirelessly as an advocate for all students. Her votes as a board member have an impact for years to come and she takes that responsibility very seriously. - LETTER: Reader says incumbent's personal agenda in the way
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
