A state board headed by Gov. Mary Fallin will decide how to handle a $7.9 million hiccup in the state budget that was approved by lawmakers for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The Oklahoma Board of Equalization will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday to discuss a recent opinion by Attorney General Scott Pruitt that says the Legislature's decision to divert about $7.9 million from a college scholarship program was unconstitutional. The diverted revenue was part of a $7.1 billion general appropriations bill that funds most state government functions for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Disregarding that section of the general appropriations bill, which effectively made an additional $7.5 million available for general appropriations by the Legislature, will mean the budget is over-appropriated and will “…cause 0.12 percent general revenue appropriation reductions to agencies receiving appropriations from general revenue for FY15,” according to John Estus, public affairs director for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
OMES will present a report to the board concerning the effect ignoring that provision of the general appropriations bill “…and the administration and impact to agencies of the over-appropriation,” according to the board’s agenda.
House Democratic leader Rep. Scott Inman, who requested the opinion, maintains the budget is now technically out of balance in violation of a constitutional requirement that the state has a balanced budget.
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