The state Board of Equalization met Feb. 16 to certify revenue for the Legislature to appropriate for Fiscal Year 2022. The board approved a constitutional limit on appropriations of $7.9 billion. A total of $9.6 billion in revenue was actually certified, but that amount includes $1.7 billion in one-time cash and non-recurring revenue. In comparison, the Legislature appropriated $7.8 billion for Fiscal Year 2021.
This revenue picture is so much better than anyone envisioned last spring when many businesses and state services closed during the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because of many prudent decisions made by the Legislature last year. First, we didn’t appropriate the full amount we were authorized. Instead, we made some precise appropriations’ reductions in areas we felt could best bear them. We also were able to reopen state businesses quickly and worked to keep them open in a manner that kept the public safe.
Coupled with the rollout of vaccines, and a drop in the number of COVID cases and hospitalizations, Oklahoma’s budget is now in better shape than many other states. With this revenue certification, we can make targeted investments in agencies, replenish reserves and even consider tax relief for citizens. State government is in a very good spot thanks to restrained conservative budgeting last year and a resilient economy.
On the budget front, many of our House Appropriation and Budget Sub committees had to cancel meetings this past week because of the unprecedented amounts of snowfall across our state. This storm hampered our business at the state Capitol, since members have to drive in from all across the state. We were able to meet several days on an abbreviated schedule, but we moved many of the bills left in the subcommittees into the full Appropriations and Budget Committee. That committee met Thursday.
I know many of my constituents have had a hard time during this extended cold weather. I’ve been getting regular updates from the Department of Transportation as well as monitoring our local emergency management responses. The governor’s declaration of a statewide emergency in advance of the storm and his seeking assistance from the federal government will help mitigate the effects of this disaster.
Still, we’ve had several fatal wrecks on our highways as well as rolling power blackouts and water main breaks in many communities. I’m so sorry for the families that lost loved ones and for those who have suffered ill effects of this storm. I’m grateful, however, for our first responders and those crew members who worked around the clock to keep our roads open and power and water flowing. We’ll learn from this experience and see where we can strengthen our efforts going forward.
Kevin Wallace serves Dist. 32 of the Okla. House of Representatives. He can be reached by phone at (405) 557-7368 or email at kevin.wallace@okhouse.gov.