OKLAHOMA CITY - Backers of a proposed popular culture museum for downtown Tulsa have given up on their efforts to get state funding this year, saying it would be inappropriate to proceed amid the tragedy of the Moore tornado.

"We need to be thinking first of our fellow Oklahomans who have suffered from this devastating disaster," said Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. "I have talked to board members, private donors and supporters who have pledged matching resources for the museum, and they are in total agreement. This is the time to grieve and rally around those who need our help."

Meanwhile, plans to commit another $40 million to the half-built American Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma City, which has already consumed $62 million in state bond funding, are moving ahead this year, that effort's leader said.

A state House committee was on the verge of considering plans to commit $40 million in future state tax revenue to the Tulsa project over a four-year period starting next year when the storm struck on Monday... FULL ARTICLE

Rep. Joe Dorman is calling for a $500 million bond issue to address the shortage.

Dorman, D-Rush Springs, said he is working on legislation that would provide $400 million of the bond issue to pay for storm shelters in public schools. The remaining $100 million would fund a program to assist homeowners and group home facilities with building storm shelters.

“We need to provide some funding to help build storm shelters, especially in schools,” he said.

“I would hope the idea has bipartisan appeal.”

Dorman said the debt service of a $500 million bond issue would be about $30 million annually.

State leaders could use $30 million earmarked in the upcoming fiscal year budget to make building repairs to make the bond payments, he said... FULL ARTICLE

“Due to the unfolding tragedy facing our friends and neighbors in the Moore and Shawnee communities, we agree this is the best course of action,” said Mike Neal, president and chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, commonly called OK Pop.

“We applaud Gov. (Mary) Fallin, the Legislature and other state leaders for their diligent attention to ensuring any and all state resources are focused on assisting the victims of this terrible tragedy.”

Blake Wade, executive director of the Native American Education Authority, which is trying to complete the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum, agreed that legislators should put their attention on the needs of those suffering from Sunday's tornado in Shawnee and Monday's tornado that caused extensive damage and multiple deaths in Moore... FULL ARTICLE

OKLAHOMA CITY - A bill that would channel $40 million to the mothballed American Indian Cultural Center made it through a House of Representatives committeeMonday, but a vote on a similar bill for the proposed OK POP museum in Tulsa was postponed because of the weather.

Senate Bill 1132 by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, prevailed in the House Joint Appropriations and Budget committee by a count of 13-10, meaning a likely floor vote later this week.

"I promise there will never be another dime asked for here," said J. Blake Wade, who was brought in by the museum's governing board two years ago to try to save the struggling project.

Members of the committee were far from convinced. The museum's cost overruns and the manner in which the funding scheme was hatched in the final days of the legislative session prompted a steady fire of questions, directed at Wade and others by committee Chairman Scott Martin, R-Norman, and Vice Chairman Tom Newell, R-Seminole.

"I found out about it Thursday afternoon on the floor (of the House) while it was being heard in Senate committee," Martin said... FULL ARTICLE

OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill on Monday setting a $7.1 billion state budget for fiscal year 2014.

The agreement was negotiated among Fallin, the House and the Senate.

Critics say House Bill 2301 doesn't contain enough money for common education.

Funding for common education was dramatically reduced following the economic downturn, which resulted in less state revenue.

The budget contains $74 million in new funds for common education and a $17 million supplemental appropriation to help schools get through the current fiscal year.

It also includes $17.4 million in new funds for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for crisis centers, to combat prescription drug abuse, for suicide prevention and other items... FULL ARTICLE

But the Transportation Department said late Monday that travel in the Moore area was still discouraged.

The agency said first responders, utility crews and others performing official duties are working in the area and need clear lanes of travel.

The department says no other highways are closed due to the storms.

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AFTER years of stop-and-start progress, the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum may be nearing the finish line. A Senate budget committee has voted to fund the museum's completion by earmarking $40 million in use taxes over several years. Use taxes are paid on out-of-state and online purchases in lieu of sales taxes, primarily by businesses, bringing in more than $200 million per year.

Under the plan, $15 million in use taxes would be directed to the museum in fiscal year 2015, which starts July 1, 2014. The following fiscal year, another $15 million would be provided; $10 million would be made available in fiscal 2017.

Completion of the project is preferable to the current state of affairs. It now sits half-built, a multi-million-dollar eyesore funded by taxpayer dollars without generating taxpayer benefit. Should lawmakers fail to act, the site will become dilapidated and an evermore noticeable black eye for Oklahoma City.

This funding plan isn't without flaws. A simple bond issue would have been better. It would have provided the $40 million almost immediately, which would be matched by $40 million in private donations. This would allow for swift completion of the museum... FULL ARTICLE

OKLAHOMA CITY – A $40 million funding package for Oklahoma City’s American Indian Cultural Center and Museum cleared another legislative hurdle Monday, passing out of a House conference committee on a 13-10 vote.

However, although the idea is supported by Republican leaders in the Oklahoma Senate and a wide spectrum of business and civic leaders, the center’s fate remains uncertain.

On Thursday, Senate Appropriations Chairman Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, announced a deal to divert $40 million in revenue over the next two years for the facility. The state funds would be leveraged with another $40 million in private money to complete construction of the facility.

The proposal, Senate Bill 1132, cleared the Senate’s Joint Appropriations and Budget Committee on a 16-10 vote. On Monday, the bill passed the House’s Joint Appropriations and Budget Committee 13-10.

Still, the deal’s fate is far from assured.

Though Monday’s vote kept the bill alive, every Democrat on the committee – except state Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs – voted against the bill.

Dorman said he held his nose and voted for the bill.

“Earlier I had made a promise to support the project and I wanted to keep that promise,” he said. “But I don’t like the process that was used to get the bill to committee. It concerns me when we have last-minute deals like this.” FULL ARTICLE

“There'll never be another dime asked from here on the construction of the American Indian Cultural Center,” said Blake Wade, executive director of the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority, which would oversee the museum.

The House Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget voted 13-10 to use tax revenue from Internet and out-of-state purchases to provide $40 million to help complete the project. The state funds will match $40 million in pledges from individuals, businesses, American Indian tribes and the city of Oklahoma City, Wade said.

The measure, Senate Bill 1132, now goes to the House Calendar Committee, which will determine whether it gets a hearing in the House. The measure must pass the House of Representatives and the Senate. A Senate special budget committee passed the measure Thursday, the first time information about the proposal became public... FULL ARTICLE

Can you imagine an infrastructure bank loaning up to $750 billion to state and local agencies, using no federal funds? Congressman John Delaney can, and will introduce legislation later this week to create that loan program.  The proposal is supported by Democratic and Republican Representatives.

Delaney explained his proposal to us:

“The bipartisan Partnership to Build America Act provides assistance to states and municipalities that are looking to finance infrastructure projects. It doesn’t have the federal government picking winners or losers and it doesn’t create a new bureaucracy. My bill requires zero appropriated funds. Instead, we can encourage additional investment in our economy and finance the infrastructure projects we desperately need.”

The legislation creates the American Infrastructure Fund (AIF). It would funded by the sale of $50 billion worth of Infrastructure Bonds which would have a 50 year term, pay a fixed interest rate of 1%, and would not be guaranteed by the U.S. government. Delaney explains... FULL ARTICLE

The fast set at the state Capitol has come up with a solution to the vexing problems of the American Indian Cultural Center and the OKPOP museum for Tulsa - but it's not a solution without any costs.

The half-built Indian museum in Oklahoma City, which has already eaten $62 million in state bond money, wants $40 million more. The cultural center backers say they would match that with $40 million in promised private funding to get the museum at the crossroads of Interstate 40 and Interstate 35 across the finish line.

In the age-old legislative tradition that any time Oklahoma City gets state money, Tulsa must also, local business leaders want $42.5 million to build a popular culture museum downtown. Unlike the American Indian museum, the Tulsa project would be self-sustaining.

The two museum projects have been hanging around in the hallways of the state Capitol looking for loose change for years now.

The latest plan was unveiled Thursday... FULL ARTICLE

And at the same time, other legislators are trying to write even more tax giveaways into state law for things like tickets and hospitality suites to sporting events and the sale of helicopters.

"Once again a bunch of very questionable tax credits are emerging from the cracks in the walls of our crumbling state Capitol," said Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, a longtime critic of tax credits. "There are stealth efforts underway to give away hundreds of millions of dollars at the end of a session when we told our state troopers and prison guards we had no money to pay them a decent salary."

Dank sponsored a bill this session to ensure that hundreds of existing tax credits undergo more rigorous scrutiny, including pre-approval, expiration dates, fiscal limits and a requirement they actually create jobs. The bill easily cleared the House but was derailed in a Senate committee... FULL ARTICLE

The executive order will mandate federal agencies implement so-called "best practices" to streamline the process for obtaining federal permits to work on infrastructure projects. The White House says the move will help jumpstart construction on vital transportation systems in need of urgent repair.

"Those practices range from expanding information technology (IT) tools to strategies for improving collaboration, such as having multiple agencies review a project at the same time, instead of one after the other," said a White House aide... FULL ARTICLE

OKLAHOMA CITY - In a surprise move, a Senate panel approved a measure Thursday to fund construction of a pop culture museum in Tulsa and another to finish the financially troubled American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City.

The Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget passed Senate Bill 1133, which provides $40 million for the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, dubbed OKPOP, to be built in the Brady Arts District.

The funds would come from sales taxes taken out of gross revenues before the money is placed into the general revenue fund. It calls for $5 million in fiscal year 2015, another $5 million in fiscal year 2016, $10 million in fiscal year 2017 and a final apportionment of $20 million in fiscal year 2018.

The measure passed by a vote of 13-12 with little notice given that it would come up in the committee.

The Legislature is not subject to the notice requirements of the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act because the House and Senate have exempted themselves from the law.

The bill now heads to the House Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget, which is expected to meet next week... FULL ARTICLE

Wednesday's Tulsa World Op-Ed page carried a Readers Forum column by Tulsa County Commissioners Fred Perry and John Smaligo in support of House Bill 1080, which would divert some motor vehicle registration fee money away from the state General Revenue Fund and into a fund for county road and bridge repair.

Over a two-year period HB 1080 would reallocate 7 percent of revenues collected under the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act for repair and maintenance of county roads and bridges, including the County Major Collector System, which connects small communities. Some $30 million a year would be dedicated for that purpose statewide instead of going into the general revenue fund.

We agree with Perry and Smaligo that additional money is needed for upkeep of an important road system.

However, we would respectfully beg to differ with some of the commissioners' assertions.

They argue that the revenue will come from "the license tag fees Oklahoma residents pay annually to drive on state and county highways and bridges each and every day."

Not true. Motor vehicle fees, or tag fees, were not originally intended as user fees for driving on roads and highways... FULL ARTICLE

Emergency repairs are expected to begin later this month on a Turner Turnpike bridge in Lincoln County.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority declared an emergency Thursday and approved a $528,858 contract to Gibson & Associates to repair Oak Road bridge over the eastbound lanes of the Turner Turnpike.

An oversize tractor-trailer struck the bridge, agency spokesman Jack Damrill said. Turnpike motorists are not affected by the damage, but the bridge was closed to motorists after the damaged section was declared unsafe to carry traffic loads.

Work should begin later this month, with the contract calling for the work to be done in 36 days, Damrill said. The work will consist of removing and replacing the portions of the damaged exterior beams over the eastbound lanes of the turnpike... FULL ARTICLE

The Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget voted 16-10 to use tax revenue from Internet and out-of-state purchases to provide $40 million to help complete the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in downtown Oklahoma City.

The panel also voted 13-12 to divert $40 million in state sales tax collections to provide initial funding for the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, commonly called OK Pop, planned for the Brady District in Tulsa.

Sen. Clark Jolley, the committee chairman, said money would start being allocated to both projects in the 2015 fiscal year, which starts July 1, 2014.

Jolley, R-Edmond, said the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum would receive use tax receipts for three years. A use tax is collected in lieu of a sales tax if a local resident makes a purchase online or out of state.

OK Pop would receive sales tax money for four years, he said... FULL ARTICLE

As the 2013 state legislative session enters its remaining days, lawmakers have many important issues still to address, including one - House Bill 1080 - that impacts every Oklahoman who drives in any of our state's 77 counties. The county highway system is composed of almost 84,000 miles of roadway and more than 14,000 bridges.

Within the county highway system there is what's known as the "County Major Collector System" which connects small communities and provides corridors for local industries, even within the city limits of the city of Tulsa, to move product to market and regular traffic. There are 15,115 miles and 4,376 bridges on the major collector system, including 98 miles in Tulsa County.

The highways and bridges on the major collector system are in extreme need of new resources to maintain existing infrastructure and to construct new highways and bridges when necessary.

HB 1080 would reallocate, over a two-year period beginning July 1, a total of 5 percent from the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act for use on the major collector system in all 77 counties, resulting in $30 million in new revenue to invest on county highways and bridges.

One of the primary reasons HB 1080 is needed is that in the case of a natural disaster or severe weather, FEMA disaster funding cannot be used to repair damage on the major collector system. Without new revenue, Oklahoma's county highways and bridges will continue to deteriorate at a rate that will make it very difficult for counties to ever be able to fully address maintenance and construction issues moving forward... FULL ARTICLE

The same is true of government revenue trends. We thus urge caution in jumping to conclusions about a trend toward higher state income tax collections at a time when income tax cuts are supposedly depressing revenues. Those who pushed the cuts are enthused by recent trends. They've said for years that total revenues increase following tax cuts, when the opposite should be true.

State Secretary of Finance and Revenue Preston Doerflinger said Tuesday that general revenue fund receipts were up by nearly $90 million — 14.7 percent — last month when compared with April 2012. Income tax collections account for most of the gain. This wasn't just a one-month trend: Net income tax collections for the first 10 months of fiscal 2013 were 13.5 percent above projections.

Still, total year-to-date general fund receipts were only 1 percent higher than the year-earlier period, and the April income tax figures may be an aberration. The year-to-date income tax receipts, however, aren't an aberration... FULL ARTICLE

This year, National Defense Transportation Day will fall on May 17, and National Transportation Week will take place from May 12 through May 18.

“We need to restore our roads, bridges, and ports — transportation networks that are essential to making the United States the best place in the world to do business,” Obama said in a written proclamation via the White House Office of the Press Secretary... FULL ARTICLE

State revenues for April came in about 15 percent higher than the same month a year ago, Oklahoma finance officials said Tuesday.

The boost pushes revenue collections for the first 10 months of this fiscal year to about 1.1 percent higher than the estimate used to craft the 2013 fiscal year budget. As of last month, collections were just 0.4 percent higher than the official estimate.

Last month, total collections for the 2013 fiscal year were 1.3 percent below the amount generated for the same period a year ago. Collections so far this fiscal year are about 1 percent above collections for the same time period last year.

Collections in April to the general revenue fund, the state's main operating account, totaled $701 million, an increase of almost $90 million, or 14.7 percent, more than a year ago, state finance records show... FULL ARTICLE

The ultimate “user fee” in Oklahoma has risen exponentially over the years. Every increase has drawn complaints, but people keep paying.

We're referring to the tolls that drivers pay to use turnpikes. Those who don't drive on toll roads don't pay tolls, which not only fund the cost of construction but maintenance and Highway Patrol coverage.

Fees are becoming the financing method of choice in Oklahoma, just as turnpikes were the highway improvement method of choice for many years. The Oklahoman's Randy Ellis reports that the state's take from fees, licenses and permits in fiscal 2012 reached nearly $600 million, up 48 percent from the previous year.

Turnpike tolls are not included in these figures. But like tolls, the fees cover activities that are optional and sometimes help an agency reduce its appropriations from the general fund. Nevertheless, they're as unpopular as turnpike tolls... FULL ARTICLE

Like a human artery, a closed highway bleeds unseen dollars every day that it's down as businesses lose customers to other areas and detours slow traffic to a walking pace.

Late last year, one of Tulsa's busiest highways was shut down after a wreck below the Interstate 244 bridge over Charles Page Boulevard shut down the bridge and the entire section of Tulsa's Inner-Dispersal Loop for repairs.

The $450,000 emergency repair was expected to take a month before traffic could resume, but 14 days later, the contractor - Manhattan Road and Bridge - had the bridge repaired and traffic resumed.

Manhattan is currently in an incentive project with the Lewis Avenue interchange on Interstate 44, the final phase of the I-44 expansion project. It is scheduled for completion in the middle of 2014.

The price the state paid for beating the traffic deadline by two weeks: $440,000, almost doubling the business's payout for the project.

And even though they expected to recoup the price of the repair, Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials said they couldn't have been happier to pay it.

State highway officials have paid more than $34 million in the last five years to reward road contractors with "incentive" pay for road projects that are finished ahead of schedule or exceed quality standards, according to ODOT data... FULL ARTICLE

Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, was the featured speaker today at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce'stransportation breakfast. The event was held at the Mack Truck Customer Center inAllentown and about 100 business leaders and elected officials attended.

Transportation issues are among the most critical facing Congress and the nation, Shuster said, calling transportation infrastructure "the backbone that supports economic growth and global competitiveness.”

"We're at a tipping point. The investments haven't been made," said the seven-term Republican, whose district covers a portion of southwestern Pennsylvania... FULL ARTICLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nathan Atkins
405.521.5605
atkins@oksenate.gov

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma state Senate passedTuesdaythe Fiscal Year 2014 General Appropriations Budget to fund state government operations. HB 2301 passed the Senate by a vote of 28-20.

HB 2301 is a fiscally conservative budget plan for Fiscal Year 2014, including targeted increases in resources for teaching in the classroom, child welfare, and the maintenance of state-owned assets. Most state agencies will not see an increase in spending under HB 2301. In total, the General Appropriations Budget includes approximately $7.1 billion.

President Pro Tem Brian Bingman called HB 2301 a balanced budget with a focus toward basic priorities.

“This is a responsible and fiscally conservative budget, with increases targeted to core government services—education, infrastructure and human services,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “Thebudgetincludes more than $90 million of additional funding for common education—money to keep the promises we’ve made to support historic education reforms, to fund benefits that our teachers depend on every month, and to put more dollars in the classroom.”

Examples of targeted increases include:
·$91 million for common education, including: $74 million in FY 2014 to support reform efforts and get more resources into classrooms; a $17 million supplemental for common education to fund teacher health benefits and other costs in FY 2013
·$33 million for Higher Education and $3 million for Career Technology to support operations and the goal of awarding more degrees and career certificates
·$40 million for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to support operations, including Sooner Care
·$1.2 million for the Department of Health to support infant mortality reduction initiatives and to implement new inspections of long term care facilities for veterans
·$17.4 million for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse to support initiatives including suicide prevention, prescription drug abuse prevention and treatment, counseling for children with mental illnesses, and “smart on crime” initiatives like the Justice Reinvestment Act
·$44 million for the Department of Human Services to support operations, including the implementation of the Pinnacle Plan and the reduction of the waiting list for services offered to individuals with developmental disabilities
·$30 million to the Maintenance of State Buildings Revolving Fund and $60 million for repairs and renovation of the State Capitol

Senate Appropriations Chairman Clark Jolley noted the importance of targeted funding increases for core government services.

“This budget represents a conservative approach to limit the growth of government while still investing in teaching in the classroom, in child welfare, and our infrastructure management,” said Jolley, R-Edmond. “We know we need to see increased dollars go to kids in the classroom, and we must press forward with monumental reforms to our child welfare services. These are fundamental core services, and this budget fulfills our most important commitments while delivering on a tax cut for the people of Oklahoma.”

HB 2301 will now advance to the governor for her signature.

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The Senate voted 28-20 to pass House Bill 2301, with eight Republicans joining 12 Democrats to vote against the budget measure for the 2014 fiscal year, which begins July 1. It needed 25 votes to pass; Republicans control the Senate 36-12.

Fallin could act on the measure by the end of the week.

The House of Representatives voted 59-40 last week to pass the measure. Twelve Republicans joined 28 Democrats to oppose the measure.

No Democrat in either chamber voted for the bill.

Most of those asking questions about the measure complained that additional money could have gone to core services.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Clark Jolley defended the bill, saying the budget targeted funding increases for core government services.

“This budget represents a conservative approach to limit the growth of government while still investing in teaching in the classroom, in child welfare and our infrastructure management,” said Jolley, R-Edmond. “We know we need to see increased dollars go to kids in the classroom, and we must press forward with monumental reforms to our child welfare services. These are fundamental core services, and this budget fulfills our most important commitments.” FULL ARTICLE

The Rogers County measure won by more than a 16 percent margin. The proposition dates to 1988, when voters approved a one-cent sales tax to fund road and bridge improvements, maintenance and repairs.

“There was a lot of negative talk about it, but the people of Rogers County are smart enough to know that good roads equal growth and better jobs and better living,” Commissioner Kirt Thacker said Tuesday night.

Voted upon every five years, the penny tax last was renewed in 2008. Had it not been approved, it would have expired in October... FULL ARTICLE

OKLAHOMA CITY — Secretary of Finance and Revenue Preston L. Doerflinger announcedTuesday that collections to the General Revenue Fund (GRF) totaled $700.9 million in April, an increase of almost $90 million or 14.7 percent from the same month a year ago. Income tax collections accounted for most of the gain as total income tax receipts beat the official estimate for the month by 15.1 percent.

Total GRF collections for the first 10 months of the fiscal year are $4.6 billion, which is $40 million or about 1 percent above total collections for the same period a year ago, and $50.7 million or 1.1 percent higher than the official estimate upon which the Fiscal Year 2013 state budget is based.

“The economy is kicking and revenues are right on pace,” Doerflinger said. “Oklahoma’s economy has shown real resilience in its ability to withstand challenges like federal defense and aerospace sector cutbacks and continued natural gas revenue losses. It instills confidence to have a steadfast economy like ours in times like these.”

Compared to the same month last year, net income tax collections to the GRF were up by nearly 20 percent, with individual income tax collections up 14 percent and corporate income tax collections up 50 percent following a 40 percent increase in March. Year-to-date income tax collections are $2.1 billion, or 13.5 percent above projections.

“When Oklahoma citizens and companies do well, so do state revenues,” Doerflinger said. “Last month’s income tax aberration was just that, as we said, and shows why we always emphasize that income taxes can fluctuate greatly from month-to-month. The big picture shows this year’s income tax revenues are trending higher than anticipated.”

In addition to general growth, April’s income tax collection increase was also spurred by the Oklahoma Tax Commission reporting that it received several large payments from individuals who filed for extensions in 2012, driving collections up for the month.

With a 5 percent unemployment rate that is 2.6 percent lower than the national rate and lowest of any of its six bordering states, Gov. Mary Fallin said Oklahoma is poised for more growth.

“Pro-growth public policy pays dividends to the public and private sectors alike,” Fallin said. “Oklahoma is already doing well economically, and we’re on the cusp of doing better. Our ability to retain and attract new businesses was strengthened even more this legislative session through income tax reductions, investments in education and long-needed reform of our workers’ compensation system. We’re in a fantastic position to expand on the economic success we’ve seen these past few years.”

The balance in the state’s constitutional Rainy Day Fund is $577.5 million, a near record, after totaling just $2 when Fallin took office in January 2011.

“Another good indicator of the state’s solid financial position is that it’s looking more likely each day that the Rainy Day Fund will soon surpass $600 million for the first time ever,” Doerflinger said.

Sales tax and motor vehicle tax collections decreased in April by 3.4 percent and 12.9 percent, respectively, compared to prior year collections. The Tax Commission reported that the sales tax revenue reduction is partly tied to companies receiving higher than usual refunds that are linked to various sales tax exemptions.

“Declines in these areas are likely also influenced by our thousands of federal employees who are understandably holding back on spending in light of the federal budget uncertainty caused by sequestration. The sequester is a slow drip that we’re continuing to monitor closely,” Doerflinger said.

Doerflinger is director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which issues the monthly GRF reports. The GRF is the state’s main operating fund and is made up of about 70 revenue sources. It is where all state taxes and fees flow, except those dedicated or earmarked to specific programs.

Major tax categories in April contributed the following amounts to the General Revenue Fund:

• Income taxes – The total collected from individual and corporate income taxes in the month of April was $427.6 million, which was $70.6 million or 19.8 percent more than prior year collections and $56.2 million or 15.1 percent above the estimate.

  Individual income tax receipts of $346.5 million were $43.5 million or 14.4 percent more than the prior year and $26.6 million or 8.3 percent above the estimate.

  Corporate tax collections in April contributed $81.1 million to the GRF, which was $27 million or 50 percent above collections for the same month of 2012 and $29.6 million or 57.5 percent above the estimate.

• Sales tax – The Tax Commission apportioned $153.3 million in sales tax collections to the GRF from April collections, which was $5.3 million or 3.4 percent less than the prior year and $15 million or 8.9 percent below the estimate.
• Gross production tax – Gross production tax collections from April contributed $34.5 million to the GRF after rebates. This amount is $19.6 and 131 percent above April collections from 2012 and $8.7 million or 20.2 percent below the estimate.

  Collections from natural gas accounted for $8.3 million, which was $6.6 million or 44.5 percent below prior year collections and $0.2 million or 2 percent below the estimate.

  Collections from gross production oil taxes contributed $26.2 million to the General Revenue Fund. No oil collections were deposited into the GRF in April of 2012. The oil tax contributions were $8.6 million or 24.6 percent below the estimate.

• Motor vehicle taxes – Motor vehicle taxes produced $16.9 million from April collections, which was $2.5 million or 12.9 percent less than the prior year and $2.8 million or 14.2 percent below the estimate.
• Other revenue – Other revenue produced $68.7 million for the GRF in April. This amount was $7.7 million or 12.6 percent more than the prior year and $5 million or 7.8 percent above the estimate.

VIEW PRESS RELEASE

“The only combat I have now is driving to work every day,” said Ruane, who is president of The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

He laughed. “Nobody’s shooting at me, but let me tell you, it’s stressful.”

But the condition of the nation’s roads and bridges is no laughing matter, Ruane added during a recent interview with The Hill.

Ruane has spent 35 years in the transportation game. He worked as a lobbyist for the trucking and storage industry for nearly a decade before moving on to ARTBA in 1988 to represent the companies that build and maintain the nation’s infrastructure... FULL ARTICLE

Tulsa World
BY World's Editorials Writers
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
5/14/13 at 4:34 AM

Oklahoma lawmakers seem hell-bent to fix up some office space in the Capitol to meet their own wants and needs, when there are all kinds of arguments against taking on the work at this time. Their zeal on this front certainly sheds light on their true priorities.

In the $7.1 billion state budget recently unveiled, lawmakers managed to carve out $7 million for remodeling some office space left vacant by the departure of the appellate courts, which are now housed in new quarters.

Lawmakers also set aside $120 million for repairing the Capitol, and were insistent that the $7 million needed right away for remodeling not be taken out of that allocation.

Problem is, doing the remodeling work now could mean that work will have to be torn out and done over when the major repair work is undertaken.

Finance Secretary Preston Doerflinger said he raised that issue several times during budget negotiations, to no avail. In fact, lawmakers seem to be in an unusual hurry to spruce up their own digs, as if they fear somebody or something might get in their way... FULL ARTICLE