Special session call revised by governor
Posted on: 1/24/18
Gov. Mary Fallin amended the call of the second special legislative session to include revenue raising measures that are recommended by several Oklahoma business and civic leaders. The group has named themselves “Step Up Oklahoma.” The Oklahoma Hospital Association has endorsed the initiative, as long as the proposal includes increasing the tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack and other proposals that include enough new revenue to fund core government services.
The governor has stated that revenue needs to be passed as soon as possible or there will be a big budget hole in February when the regular session kicks off. At this time, the second special session will run concurrently with the regular session, which begins Feb. 5.
FY2019’s total appropriations authority is expected to increase $84 million, or 1.2 percent, over FY2018’s recertified level. However, when current appropriations from the Rainy-Day Fund, agency revolving funds and re-appropriations are figured into the calculation, lawmakers will need $118.7 million to fill the FY2019 budget hole. This is in addition to the nearly $300 million in financial obligations that need to be funded during the 2018 regular legislative session. For more,
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(Lynne White)