The Norman Transcript

Opinion

Discussion

December 22, 2012

Education, prisons, safetyfocus of governor’s budget

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Oklahoma is one of the few states to project revenue growth for the next fiscal year. Most states are still suffering from the impact of the years-long recession.

The state this week certified expected revenue of about $7 billion. That’s up more than $200 million fro˙m fiscal year 2013 and doesn’t take into account any money set aside in the state’s rainy day fund.

Gov. Mary Fallin gave a hint of her budget priorities this week. She said education, prisons and public safety would be among her top priorities as she prepares a budget to present to lawmakers in February. She expressed concern to the Associated Press about the unsure nature of federal funding and the impact any cuts would have on the state.

State agencies are already making their case for additional revenue. Corrections and the Department of Public Safety are asking for additional funds to raise the salaries of prison guards and state troopers. Higher education is asking for an additional $90 million, much of it dedicated to support the governor’s initiative to increase the number of college degrees and professional certifications by 67 percent in ten years.

Regents chancellor Glen Johnson told a meeting of educators this week that college budgets have been reduced by 8.4 percent over the past five years. This year’s $1.046 billion request, is still less than the $1.05 billion allocated in 2008.

As state funding remains flat or declines, public universities and colleges in Oklahoma are growing more dependent on outside funds, federal grants and research contracts to meet growing overhead costs.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Opinion
  • Recent lawsuit was frivolous

    Editor, The Transcript: I have been a lawyer for more than 50 years and have seen many changes in our judiciary, most of which I have disliked. Since the time I was sworn into the bar, our society has become more litigious, thinking that ...

    June 18, 2013

  • A short drought reprieve

    Oklahoma’s current respite from the drought may be short-lived. We’ve yet to reach 100-degree days where water use hits the peak and Norman turns the valve to buy water from Oklahoma City....

    June 18, 2013

  • Summertime warnings

    State and local health departments are sending out summer activity warnings. In recent weeks, we’ve received rabies, mosquito and teen driver warnings....

    June 18, 2013

  • Excuses for data sweep sound hollow

    Perhaps 2013 will go down as the year privacy and civil liberties became too inconvenient for government. Listening to assorted officials defend massive programs that scoop up vast amounts of data certainly gives that impression....

    June 18, 2013

  • Highway projects are wasteful

    Editor, The Transcript:   The transfer of moneys from the private sector to the government, by use of taxation, for example, should not be expected to affect economies. Both entities spend the money on jobs and on goods and services. Who ...

    June 16, 2013

  • California is doing just fine

    Editor, The Transcript: George Will owes California an apology for his numerous columns predicting the state’s impending collapse because of gross mismanagement of public funds....

    June 15, 2013

  • Plan leaves you high, dry

    Editor, The Transcript: Living in Oklahoma, being an “at will” employee is pretty common. If you are not familiar with the term, it simply means that the boss can fire you whenever he wants. This may apply to you and you don’t even know ...

    June 15, 2013

  • We make it easy for storms

    Editor, The Transcript: If we look at how the average house is constructed here, we see how easily tornados destroy them. Walls are framed together with nails. When the walls are erected, that puts all of the nails in a vertical position....

    June 15, 2013

  • OSSAA misrepresented

    One of our state legislators has been using The Norman Transcript as a platform to launch a series of complaints about the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (“OSSAA”). As Executive Director of OSSAA, I need to set the record ...

    June 15, 2013

  • Norman by the numbers

    Quick. What’s Norman’s current population? As of this week, city officials set the mark at 114,450. It seems like only months ago, we were passing 100,000 residents, including University of Oklahoma students....

    June 14, 2013