Oklahoma legislators will begin budget briefings with various state agencies amid projections they will have about $170 million less to spend on state programs this year.
Members of House and Senate budget subcommittees will begin hearing presentations on Tuesday at the state Capitol.
State Sen. Kim David chairs the subcommittee that oversees funding for health and human services. She and her counterpart on the House subcommittee will meet with officials from nearly a dozen state agencies over the next two days.
David said she has asked agency directors to discuss how they will handle budget cuts ranging as high as 5 percent for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
David says lawmakers also are considering privatizing some Medicaid contracts as part of a move to a managed-care system.
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