State agencies in Oklahoma are buckling up for a bumpy ride ahead as lawmakers prepare to slash the budget, in order to get the Sooner State’s $900 million budget deficit under control.
As KFOR reports,the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety has announced that it’s been asked to find a way to cut 15 percent of its budget. In a statement, the DPS said such a drastic cut will place citizens, local law enforcement and state troopers at risk.
Officials say the cut would also prevent an upgrade to their computer networks. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association announced that lawmakers have asked other agencies to find a way to cut 15 percent from the budget. State legislators say the cuts are necessary to keep funding for education and teacher pay raises.