Articles
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Budget & Tax
A closer look at S&P’s bond rating downgrade of Oklahoma
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded Oklahoma government debt a notch.Jonathan Small & William Freeland | July 13, 2017
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Budget & Tax
An analysis and critique of the recent S&P bond rating downgrade of Oklahoma
Standard & Poor's (S&P) recent downgrade of Oklahoma state government debt should be considered with a healthy degree of skepticism.Jonathan Small & William Freeland | July 13, 2017
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Budget & Tax
What drives income tax revenues: Tax rates or economic growth?
Oklahoma’s marginal personal income tax rate has been reduced to 5% from 5.65% in 2007. Over those ten years, revenue from the personal income tax has fluctuated.Curtis Shelton | July 10, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Income taxes & team success
Want to help the Thunder win an NBA championship? Eliminate the state income tax!Mike Brake | July 10, 2017
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Budget & Tax
State policy rankings show where Oklahoma can improve
The interim between legislative sessions offers the opportunity to step back and consider the long-term policy direction of our state.Curtis Shelton | July 5, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Energy
A tale of two sectors
Here’s a tale of two sectors. Sector One is in a slump, due to declining prices... So, Sector One faces reality and significantly cuts costs. That’s called good sense and responsibility. Sector Two is facing the same downturn. But its managers and employees stubbornly resist every call to cut spending.Jonathan Small | June 23, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Education
Bartlesville School Board looks out for taxpayers
Though some of our friends on the left may grumble about private firms profiting from public schools, the school board is to be commended for this wise stewardship of resources.Brandon Dutcher | June 21, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Lessons from Illinois
Oklahoma just completed, with much gnashing of teeth and moaning, a budget year with a shortfall of nearly $1 billion.Jonathan Small | June 16, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Lessons from Connecticut
Oklahoma is in a recession compared to 2014, after more than 21,800 energy and manufacturing jobs have been cut, when Oklahomans have lost more than $13 billion in taxable income and reduced their purchases subject to sales and use tax by $4.1 billion just to survive.Jonathan Small | June 9, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Blue state blues
The truth is that higher taxes can mean deeper budget holes, especially when those taxes target volatile sources of revenue.Trent England | June 6, 2017