Two House members have requested interim studies that would examine Oklahoma’s revenue streams.
The requests come after Gov. Mary Fallin and her top budget advisor, Secretary of Finance, Administration and Information Services Preston Doerflinger, who serves as the governor’s top budget advisor, began stressing in December the impact allocation of state revenues to specific purposes has on General Revenue Fund collections.
State Rep. Leslie Osborn (R-Mustang) requested Interim Study H14-006 that would study funding streams taken “off the top” of state government revenue sources, while state Rep. Bobby Cleveland (R-Slaughterville), requested an examination of state revolving funds in Interim Study H14-007.
In her study proposal, Osborn wrote, “I request a comprehensive look at every funding stream that is funneled off of the top of any and every revenue source to state government.”
According to Doerflinger, 55.2 percent of gross revenue collections went to the General Revenue Fund in FY2007. In FY2013, 48.4 percent went to the General Revenue Fund. He said the amount of total revenue going into the General Revenue Fund in FY2014, which ends June 30, was just over 44 percent.
Cleveland’s request also addresses an issue Fallin raised in her executive budget – revolving fund balances. Cleveland said the purpose of his proposed study is to examine “…the balance, function and management of all revolving funds existing in the state.”
Fallin proposed using $83 million from state agency revolving funds in her executive budget as what Doerflinger called “…a starting point for discussions with the Legislature and state agencies.”
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