Articles
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Budget & Tax, Local Government
OKC rail gamble comes as transit systems nationwide face billion-dollar shortfalls
Oklahoma City metro area officials are proposing a $1.8 billion, 39-mile commuter-rail system from Edmond to Norman just as major transit agencies nationwide confront mounting structural deficits and seek new taxpayer funding.Ray Carter | September 2, 2026
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma’s tax cuts are proving the critics wrong
Oklahoma’s experience under Gov. Kevin Stitt offers a useful rebuttal to the argument that cutting income taxes necessarily reduces government revenue.Jonathan Small | August 31, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Education
State data contradict Munson’s claims about taxes, education funding, teacher pay
Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus leader Cyndi Munson has made several claims about state taxes and education policy that conflict with publicly available government data.Ray Carter | August 26, 2026
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Budget & Tax
ONE Transit approves consulting contract for proposed OKC commuter rail
Oklahoma City-area officials are moving ahead with preparations for a proposed commuter rail system from Edmond through Oklahoma City to Norman even though voters have not yet decided whether to approve the tax increase expected to help fund the project.Ray Carter | August 21, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Education
Oklahoma schools got $3 billion more. Much of it is sitting in the bank.
A new report raises questions about whether Oklahoma’s education system has a funding problem or a spending problem, particularly as school districts accumulate large reserves while teacher hiring lags behind overall staffing growth.Ray Carter | August 13, 2026
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Budget & Tax
As OKC Streetcar struggles, officials push for new rail system and higher taxes
Oklahoma City’s struggling streetcar system raises important questions about the proposed ONE Transit passenger rail system connecting Edmond, Oklahoma City, and Norman.Ray Carter | August 11, 2026
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Budget & Tax
As taxes fall, revenue climbs in Oklahoma
New state revenue figures show Oklahoma collected more tax revenue in fiscal year 2026 than it did the year before, despite significant tax cuts enacted under Gov. Kevin Stitt.Ray Carter | August 5, 2026
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma state revenue climbs nearly $1 billion in fiscal year 2026
Oklahoma finished fiscal year 2026 with strong revenue growth as total state tax collections reached $17.91 billion—nearly $1 billion more than the previous year—even after the state's top personal income-tax rate was reduced midway through the fiscal year.Curtis Shelton | July 15, 2026
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma’s tax cuts improved competitiveness—but the race isn’t over
Although Oklahoma has reduced its top personal income-tax rate from 6.65 percent in 2005 to 4.5 percent today—improving its competitive position relative to many states—the tax-cut race is accelerating elsewhere.Ray Carter | July 1, 2026
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma welfare rolls are moving in the right direction
Oklahoma’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment fell by 14 percent between February 2025 and February 2026—roughly 97,000 fewer recipients, a decline that outpaced the national average and coincided with increased scrutiny of eligibility verification.Jonathan Small | June 29, 2026