Oklahoma panel certifies $8.3B, projects flat budget in 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state panel led by Gov. Kevin Stitt has certified the state will have about $8.3 billion to spend on next year’s budget, roughly the same amount as the current year’s budget.

The Board of Equalization on Friday certified that figure, which Stitt will use to build his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Stitt says he also plans to reduce agency budgets to account for about $250 million in “one-time” expenses that were approved in last year’s budget. He says that additional revenue should allow for extra spending on priorities like health care and education.