We’re now in the final month of the 2024 legislative session and budget talks are well underway at the state Capitol. Here are the 10 largest state agencies in terms of state appropriations:

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

State appropriations have grown by 31 percent (adjusted for inflation) over the last 20 years. But let’s look at each of these 10 agencies specifically, starting today with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Since 2004, its total appropriation (when adjusted for inflation) has grown by $767 million, or 23 percent.

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

Looking at the year-over-year changes, we see that the appropriation level stayed relatively flat until 2019. Since fiscal year 2019, the Department of Education has grown by 29 percent when adjusted for inflation. It’s important to note just how much of an impact inflation has had. In nominal terms (i.e., not adjusted for inflation), the Department of Education has seen an additional $1.5 billion in funding since fiscal year 2018.

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