Budget & Tax

A look at Oklahoma DHS spending

June 26, 2024

Curtis Shelton

Continuing our series on Oklahoma’s 10 largest state agencies brings us to number five on the list, the Department of Human Services. As a reminder, the top 10 are as follows:

  1. Department of Education
  2. Oklahoma Health Care Authority
  3. Regents for Higher Education
  4. Department of Transportation
  5. Department of Human Services
  6. Department of Corrections
  7. Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  8. Department of Career and Technology Education
  9. Department of Public Safety
  10. Office of Management and Enterprise Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is responsible for Oklahoma’s foster care system as well as other government assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. DHS received $798 million in this year’s budget agreement.

Since 2003, the DHS appropriated budget has grown by 20 percent, or $131 million, when adjusted for inflation to current dollars. 

Sources: Oklahoma Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports; Oklahoma House of Representatives Fiscal Summary; SB1125 Fiscal Summary; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Inflation Calculator