Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Chairman Promises Transparent Budget Process

Photo: Walter Bibikow / DigitalVision / Getty Images

 Senate Appropriations Chairman Chuck Hall says the Oklahoma Senate will build on the transparent budget process the chamber implemented during last year’s legislative session.

Hall, a Republican, said the Senate is working to simplify and streamline the process of writing a state budget for the next fiscal year while still ensuring the public can remain engaged every step of the way.

In a new effort to make the state’s revenue numbers easier to understand, officials from the Oklahoma Tax Commission will present to the committee at 10 a.m. on Thursday about how the agency generates its revenue estimates. These key estimates are the foundation on which the Senate builds a state budget proposal.

“Transparency in the budget process is essential for building trust with Oklahomans and ensuring accountability in government,” Hall said. “The Senate is still committed to fostering an open environment where everyone can understand how we craft a state budget and participate in the process. If Oklahomans want to learn more about how revenue estimates are developed and how they shape our budget decisions, I encourage them to tune in Thursday when the Oklahoma Tax Commission presents a breakdown of these key figures.”

To follow the dollars and cents of the budget process, the Senate has posted on its website a spreadsheet detailing funding requests from state agencies. To view the document that will be updated throughout budget discussions, click here.


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