Oklahoma New Budget Bill Passed-How Will It Affect Your Wallet? In preparation for its adjournment on Friday, the Oklahoma Senate transmitted the general appropriations measure to the lower chamber on Tuesday.
The budget agreement for fiscal year 2025, which was announced last week and is worth $12.47 billion, is laid out in Senate Bill 1125.
On July 1, a new fiscal year starts.
The bill was approved with a vote of 31 to 11, with six Democrats and five Republicans voting against it.
Opponents of the legislation from the Democratic Party said it did not allocate sufficient funds for healthcare, mental health, child care, and education. They said that private prisons and schools will get greater funding as a result of the policy.
According to oklahomavoice, Democratic senator from Oklahoma City Julia Kirt remarked, “This budget has millions of dollars of sweetheart deals for big, private businesses that have no transparency or accountability.” “The budget allocates larger sums to private schools at the expense of our public schools, and there are no mandates making private schools accountable or transparent with the taxpayer money they receive.”
Kirt was making reference to a program that offers tax credits to families who choose to send their children to private schools, which would see an increase of $50 million from the current ceiling of $150 million.
Lawmakers failed to seize the opportunity to end childhood hunger, according to Sen. Carri Hicks (D-Oklahoma City).
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A hungry child cannot learn, Hicks remarked. “And this year, state funding for the child nutrition programs has actually been cut.”
Republican lawmakers countered that the budget addresses long-overdue infrastructure and neglected maintenance with much-needed funding.
The budget includes measures to decrease the waiting list for CareerTech programs and raise fees for long-term care providers, according to Chuck Hall, a Republican from Perry who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.
According to Hall, it creates a financial buffer for the state and allows for the removal of the sales tax on food.
Additionally, it allocates more funds to address domestic violence and support sheriffs, according to Hall.
According to Hall, $350 million will be allocated to state parks, higher education institutions, and state-owned properties through a deferred repair program.
The public was able to see the budget negotiations unfold in real time for the first time since they began.
The Friday session of Congress must end at 5 o’clock. In this post, we have given information about “Oklahoma New Budget Bill Passed-How Will It Affect Your Wallet?”
Natalie Clydesdale is a journalist at oklahomansdecide.org, where she covers crucial local and state news with a focus on accuracy and depth. Her extensive experience in investigative reporting ensures readers receive clear and reliable information. Follow her latest updates on Instagram.
