Articles
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Budget & Tax
State appropriations vs. total Oklahoma government spending
In discussions about taxes and state government spending in Oklahoma, some advocates insist that available funding has been slashed to the bone for important public services.Curtis Shelton & Dave Bond | May 15, 2018
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Budget & Tax
A look back: 25 years of state spending
The data analyzed in these charts come from Oklahoma’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) created by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).Curtis Shelton | May 15, 2018
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Budget & Tax
State appropriations over the last eight years
The signing of Senate Bill 1600 completed the last legislative budget of Gov. Mary Fallin’s time in office. This is a good time to look back on how state appropriations have changed over the last eight years.Curtis Shelton | May 15, 2018
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Budget & Tax
A look at tax collections
Total state tax collections are rebounding from a low point in fiscal year 2017 (July 2016 through June 2017).Curtis Shelton | May 11, 2018
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Budget & Tax
More money, more problems
It’s been busy lately, so you may not have noticed that the state of Oklahoma received $71 million from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.Jonathan Small | May 4, 2018
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Budget & Tax
New revenue passed since 2015
A common narrative about Oklahoma is that tax cuts created a budget crisis—and the Legislature has done nothing to solve it. While we have questioned this story about tax cuts, it is also important to note that the Legislature, along with the governor, have also increased government revenues.Jonathan Small & Curtis Shelton | April 30, 2018
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Budget & Tax
Tax cut effects on sales tax revenue
While the state sales tax rate has remained at 4.5% for the past two decades, revenue brought in from the tax has grown even when adjusted for inflation and population growth.Curtis Shelton | April 16, 2018
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Budget & Tax
Capital gains volatility
While removing the capital gains deduction would bring in additional revenue, it would also become one more unstable revenue source.Curtis Shelton | April 13, 2018
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Budget & Tax
Telling the truth about SQ 640
Whether it’s The Economist, The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, or their accomplices in Oklahoma, some just can’t wait to tell us how terrible things are.Jonathan Small | March 23, 2018
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Budget & Tax
The tax cut blame game
Those who want higher taxes generally blame past tax cuts for Oklahoma’s recent budget challenges. They cast particular blame on cuts to state income tax rates. While OCPA has questioned the severity of these challenges, we have also researched the connection between tax cuts and revenue.Curtis Shelton | March 22, 2018