Articles
-
Budget & Tax
Oklahoma sets new record for revenue collections
Oklahoma’s total revenue collections for fiscal year 2019 set a new record at $13.6 billion. Revenue collections grew by $1.4 billion compared to last year’s total.Curtis Shelton | July 24, 2019
-
Budget & Tax, Education
Scholarship tax credit accounts for a tiny fraction of Oklahoma’s total tax credits
Oklahoma offers many tax credits, but none have received the kind of attention over the last few years as the tax credit associated with the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship program.Curtis Shelton | July 16, 2019
-
Budget & Tax
Do tax rates matter?
Data collected by Bloomberg and by the group How Money Walks point to a trend in inter-state migration. States with low income-tax rates have, by and large, gained more adjusted gross income compared to states with relatively high income-tax rates.Curtis Shelton | June 25, 2019
-
Budget & Tax
Oklahoma increases film subsidies amidst calls for state’s blacklisting
Even as Oklahoma's political leaders cleared the path for millions of more taxpayer dollars to go to entertainment companies, one prominent actress has called for Oklahoma to be blacklisted.Ray Carter | June 19, 2019
-
Budget & Tax
Film subsidy debate focuses on finances … and abortion
Though some suggest that film projects may land in Oklahoma as a result of recent pro-life legislation in Georgia, a national expert and some Oklahoma lawmakers are skeptical.Ray Carter | June 13, 2019
-
Budget & Tax
Stitt announces new spending transparency site
Governor Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday the launch of Oklahoma Checkbook, an interactive web site that provides regularly updated data on state expenses.Ray Carter | June 13, 2019
-
Budget & Tax
Two years of Oklahoma revenue growth
Oklahoma’s total gross receipts in May grew by $103 million compared to last year. Total gross receipts have shown year-over-year growth for 24 months in a row.Curtis Shelton | June 12, 2019
-
Budget & Tax
Experts warn of economic storm clouds on horizon
Due largely to state economic growth, Oklahoma lawmakers have been able to dramatically boost state spending. But there are indications that the days of financial largess may be near an end.Ray Carter | June 11, 2019
-
Budget & Tax
Oklahoma’s property tax advantage over Texas may decline
The American Legislative Exchange Council’s most recent edition of “Rich States, Poor States,” which ranks U.S. states based on economic competitiveness, showed property tax burden is one of the few areas where Oklahoma holds a decided advantage over Texas. It may not stay that way.Ray Carter | June 4, 2019
-
Budget & Tax, Good Government
LOFT may be used more by watchdogs than lawmakers
This year, lawmakers created the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), which will audit agency budgets and evaluate the effectiveness of state programs and services, issuing published reports of resulting conclusions. Supporters say the office will lead to better legislative oversight and more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. But officials in other states with similar programs say private-sector watchdogs, rather than politicians, often make better use of the resulting data.Ray Carter | May 31, 2019