Oklahoma Department of Human Services announces budget cuts

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Department of Human Services says it plans to cut $45 million from its budget and will ask state lawmakers for supplemental funding early next year in order to complete the fiscal year that ends June 30.

DHS Director Ed Lake announced the cuts Wednesday and said the agency faces a budget shortfall of more than $100 million. But Lake says it's not possible to trim $100 million from the agency's budget without putting thousands of vulnerable Oklahomans at risk.

The $45 million cut means a total loss of $72.8 million to DHS with the loss of matching federal funds. Lake says 66 percent of the cuts will come from personnel – eliminating an estimated 91 jobs, 30 percent from client services and benefits and 4 percent from contracts.