1.3 Billion Budget Shortfall Cuts Over 600 State Jobs

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Efforts to cope with a $1.3 billion shortfall in the state budget have led to the elimination of 609 workers from the payrolls of state agencies so far this year. John Estus, director of public affairs for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, says that through June 28, the number of state employees dropped from 34,569 to 33,960.