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Oklahoma
State Legislature Legislative leaders in the House and Senate today announced a supplemental appropriations agreement that provides crucial funds for prisons, repairs for the state’s worst bridges and replenishes dollars spent fighting wildfires across Oklahoma. “This is a true bipartisan agreement, and it emphasizes responsible government without raising taxes,” said Speaker Todd Hiett (R-Kellyville). “I commend our budget negotiators who have worked hard to meet needs in Oklahoma, while acting as good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars. The people of Oklahoma expect us to work to-gether in a businesslike way. And we have.” “We have a unique opportunity this session to make historic investments in the future of Oklahoma,” said Sen-ate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan. “This bi-partisan agreement represents the kind of approach that I am hopeful we can take throughout the session. We must look beyond the next election and focus on the next gen-eration. Our budget framers have done that and they deserve recognition for their hard work and perseverance.” Highlights of the agreement include: • $100 million for the state’s worst bridges. About $93 million for the bridge fund would come from an infra-structure and economic development fund established last year. The remaining $7 million would come from current cash sources. • $25 million of state funds set aside for county bridges. The $25 million will come from expected surplus money estimated to exceed the allowed size of the Rainy Day account. Those funds will become available at the end of the fiscal year. The funds will be administered by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. “It’s been well documented that Oklahoma has the worst bridges in the nation. There’s no more responsible in-vestment we could make with some of the surplus funds available to us this year than to give the Department of Transportation the resources it needs to make our roads and bridges safe for Oklahoma families,” said Senator Frank Shurden, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on General Government and Transpor-tation. “This is the first step in making a responsible investment in our bridges and roads this year without raising taxes,” said Rep. Jim Newport, R-Ponca City, vice chair of House Appropriations and Budget Committee. • A $24 million supplemental appropriation for the Department of Corrections, providing for a $2,800 raise for corrections officers and prison facility staff. The $24 million will also allow the department to hire an addi-tional 75 corrections officers and 50 parole officers in the current fiscal year. Leaders have also agreed to annu-alize the supplemental to allow the addition of 150 corrections officers and 50 parole officers in FY 2007. “This is a businesslike solution that moves us toward making Oklahoma’s prisons and public safety a priority, while giving correctional officers better pay for protecting us from our most dangerous citizens,” said Rep. John Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow, chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Judiciary. “Our courageous corrections officers continue to work in dangerous conditions. This agreement will give them all a boost in pay and allow the Department of Corrections to finally begin filling its vacant positions to create a safer environment inside and outside the walls of our state’s prisons,” said Senator Kenneth Corn, chairman of the Senate Sub-Committee on Public Safety and Judiciary. • $3.6 million for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to offset the costs of fighting wildfires since No-vember 1. “We’ve seen firsthand by visiting the incident command post in Shawnee the cost and devastation caused by wildfires across the state this year. Rural firefighters have been real heroes to all of us, and they deserve our help,” said Rep. Curt Roggow, R-Enid, chair of the House A&B Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Regu-latory Services. “With this appropriation we are addressing the immediate needs and making sure Oklahoma will be prepared should we be hit with another rash of wildfires in the coming weeks. We have several new proposals that are on the table and we will continue to look at the long-term needs of our rural fire departments throughout the ses-sion,” said Senator Jeff Rabon, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services. • $4.6 million for OHLAP (Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program) to offset the casino gaming revenue shortfall. • The agreement also includes funds for the state Supreme Court ($3.8 million) to offset a Judicial Fund short-fall, as well as $456,000 for OSBI to provide support for a DNA evidence database. The
bipartisan accord also fulfills previous agreements
made by the Speaker, Senate President Pro Tempore and
the governor for winter heating bills assistance ($5.4
million) and funds to celebrate Oklahoma’s centennial
($17 million). 
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