Articles
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Budget & Tax
Foolish Hollywood handouts
Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein may face criminal charges from Los Angles to London. If he does, he can pay part of his legal bills with money from Oklahoma taxpayers.Jonathan Small | January 26, 2018
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Budget & Tax
Tax Foundation critiques ‘Step Up Oklahoma’ tax plan
The Tax Foundation, a well-known nonprofit that studies fiscal policy across the United States, has issued a critical analysis of the combination of tax changes and tax increases advanced over the past two weeks by Step Up Oklahoma.Patrick B. McGuigan | January 24, 2018
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Budget & Tax
State spending grew faster than inflation or population growth
In one generation, total state spending in Oklahoma has increased by $7.2 billion even when adjusted for inflation. This 70% increase shows the size and scope of government growing at an unsustainable rate. Over the same period, Oklahoma’s population grew by just 24%.Curtis Shelton | January 22, 2018
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Budget & Tax
A look at the 2017 CAFR
A look at the new spending totals for FY 2017 shows total state spending was $17.64 billion, down from $18.37 billion in the prior fiscal year (adjusted for inflation).Curtis Shelton | January 18, 2018
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Budget & Tax
Film rebate payments since 2010
Since 2010, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office has given $20,282,491.09 through its Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program.Curtis Shelton | January 17, 2018
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Budget & Tax
State revenues up. Again.
The latest press release from the Oklahoma Treasurer shows another month of revenue growth. With this past December exceeding the collections from December 2016, it marks the eighth straight month of year-over-year increases in revenue collections.Curtis Shelton | January 12, 2018
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Budget & Tax, Education
The truth about education spending
Oklahomans know they’re not getting a good return on their public education investments. A survey last year of 1,016 likely Oklahoma voters by the firm Cor Strategies found that only 22 percent think taxpayers are getting a good ROI – while 66 percent do not. And it’s not just Republicans, 60 percent of Democrats say we’re not getting a good ROI.Jonathan Small | January 12, 2018
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Budget & Tax
A pay raise for Christmas
“America needs a tax cut,” Gov. Mary Fallin and several other GOP governors said in a Dec. 7 letter urging Congress to pass tax reform and send it to President Trump.Jonathan Small | January 2, 2018
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Budget & Tax
How does Oklahoma rank in Tax Climate Study?
The Tax Foundation recently released its 2018 State Business Tax Climate Index. The report gauges how each state’s tax system compares to the others and ranks each one. In this year’s edition, Oklahoma is ranked 32nd.Curtis Shelton | December 22, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Off the charts
Gov. Mary Fallin, during the regular and first special legislative sessions, repeatedly used a chart showing cuts to state agencies since 2009.Curtis Shelton | December 20, 2017