Articles
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Budget & Tax
Fiscal restraint will be tested in 2020
The Board of Equalization has certified a small increase in revenue for the upcoming fiscal year. Policymakers must resist the urge to enact “revenue enhancements” and instead practice fiscal responsibility.Curtis Shelton | January 6, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Tribes sue state, but concede casino fees subject to renegotiation
Three tribal governments have filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to declare that their casino gaming compacts automatically renew. Yet in that same lawsuit those tribes concede that the fees they pay Oklahoma government for geographic monopolies on casino gaming are subject to renegotiation.Ray Carter | January 3, 2020
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Budget & Tax
State government to have ‘flat’ budget next year
The State Board of Equalization has certified that the governor and lawmakers will have only $9 million more to spend in the 2020 legislative session than in 2019. That represents an increase of just one-tenth of 1 percent.Ray Carter | December 23, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Compulsive gamblers can self-ban; expert calls the idea ‘almost worthless’
Les Bernal, national director of Stop Predatory Gambling, cites studies that show that half of the profits from commercial gambling come from addicted gamblers.Mike Brake | December 20, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma budget timeline explained
Last year Oklahoma had a budget surplus of $355 million. In the three previous years, Oklahoma experienced revenue shortfalls prompting across-the-board spending cuts and a special legislative session.Rick Farmer, Ph.D. | December 19, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Tribes concede casino fees subject to renegotiation
Stitt said a compact extension will allow both sides to preserve their legal positions while negotiations continue.Ray Carter | December 18, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma tribes pursue casinos in states with higher rates
In arguing against Gov. Kevin Stitt’s call for the State of Oklahoma to receive higher exclusivity payments for monopoly casino rights, Oklahoma’s tribal casino operators often argue that the benefits of the state’s low rates accrue to Oklahoma anyway because they have nowhere else to go with their earnings.Ray Carter | December 16, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
State government funds group that blames health problems on racism
In recent years, the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) has paid at least $1.6 million to an organization that “believes that the most powerful risk factors in health are laws and policies that have perpetuated the legacy of racism, discrimination, and segregation throughout our nation’s history.”Ray Carter | December 13, 2019
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Budget & Tax
State savings may increase even in flat budget year
State lawmakers will likely face a flat budget in the 2020 session, with possibly less revenue than what was certified last year. But state savings could increase, nonetheless.Ray Carter | December 12, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma City makes the nice list
A new report ranks Oklahoma City the number-one city in North America in “ease of doing business.”Curtis Shelton | December 11, 2019