Governor Fallin plans for special session to fix broken Okla. budget

Oklahoma City - Governor Mary Fallin today issued the following statement on her plans to call a special legislative session for lawmakers to adjust the current fiscal year budget:

“I am planning on calling a special session beginning September 25 for legislators to adjust the current fiscal year budget. A formal call for a special session will be issued in the next few days, but I wanted to announce my intention to call a special session for planning purposes. I also want Oklahomans to know we are working diligently to address the fiscal matters of our state."

The state’s 2018 fiscal year budget has a shortfall of $215 million. This shortfall is due, in part, as a result of last month’s Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling, which struck down a proposed smoking cessation fee that was estimated to raise that amount. The tax would have unfairly taxed the lower income citizens of Oklahoma. The $215 million represents just state funds. With the loss of matching federal funds state agencies estimate the total is nearly $500 million.

Copyright 2017 The Gayly -  September 6, 2017 @ 1:20 p.m. CDT.