Articles
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Oklahoma officials push back on ESG
Oklahoma officials, at both the state and federal level, are pushing back, and ESG proponents are expected to lose billions of dollars in business they currently conduct with Oklahoma state entities.Ray Carter | February 2, 2023
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Budget & Tax
Report: Oklahoma personal income tax bigger issue than business taxes
Oklahoma’s business taxes are not a major factor in business expansion or relocation decisions, but the state’s personal income tax remains a challenge cited by many business officials, according to a review conducted by the Oklahoma Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT).Ray Carter | January 30, 2023
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Budget & Tax, Education
Critics claim $330 million increase ‘cuts’ school spending
Legislators say these attacks, untethered from reality, do nothing to foster serious debate on Oklahoma’s education challenges.Ray Carter | January 27, 2023
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Budget & Tax
It’s (still) time for tax reform
Oklahoma has a chance to stay ahead of the curve this legislative session with an increase in revenue creating an environment where significant tax reform is being seriously discussed at the state Capitol.Curtis Shelton | January 20, 2023
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Budget & Tax
Abundant tax revenue provides opportunity for reform
With collections continuing to grow, lawmakers have ample wiggle room to enact significant tax reform while keeping a relatively flat budget.Curtis Shelton | January 5, 2023
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Budget & Tax
As other states cut taxes, it’s time for Oklahoma to act
While fears of a recession may make some lawmakers hesitant to cut taxes, the people of Oklahoma can’t take a back seat to the government they support.Curtis Shelton | December 20, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
Oklahoma offers lavish teacher benefits, study shows
Oklahoma’s public-school teachers face no out-of-pocket expense for their health insurance premiums because state government foots the entire tab. That’s far more generous than what most other states offer—even though the taxpayer cost of providing that perk is escalating rapidly in Oklahoma, according to a new state report.Ray Carter | December 16, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
Non-teaching staff surge limits Oklahoma teacher pay raises
Not only has the staffing surge cost teachers money, it has shown no effect on student outcomes.Curtis Shelton | November 21, 2022
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Budget & Tax
State savings on pace to grow
New data now show the state is on pace to add even more money to the state’s “rainy day” fund at the end of the ongoing budget year due to surplus collections.Ray Carter | November 18, 2022
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Budget & Tax
Unfunded mandate proves headwind to state retirement system
Although the funded status of the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System (OTRS) improved dramatically for a decade, an unfunded benefit-increase mandated by lawmakers in 2020 effectively eliminated four years’ worth of continued progress, according to data presented to lawmakers.Ray Carter | November 1, 2022