Budget Cuts Make Impact on State Funded Agencies

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A day after state agencies received a 5 percent cut in allocations there's still a lot of uncertainty, especially for agencies completely funded by the state.

The state treasurer's office said that three agencies will be hit the hardest with this cut because they're paid exclusively by state appropriations and eventually that could have an impact on your safety.

Bad budget news came in Oklahoma after tax revenues fell short in August. A 5 percent across-the-board cut was called for state agencies for the second straight month and the continued cuts could have an impact on public safety.

Department of Corrections spokesperson Jerry Massie says these days they're barely operating at full capacity.

"We're pretty used to not having all the resources we needed," Massie said. "There are a couple of major studies that were efficient, but we're also needing more money for infrastructure, facilities, free housing. We need more staffing."

The DOC has a staffing shortage that could have a trickledown effect on the public.

"But one or two or three more people at each location would make a difference," Massie said. "If we don't have them staffed up and/or we don't do well enough, just adding some additional people filling those in critical roles could make a big difference to our approach."

The Department of Corrections is planning a talk with legislators in hopes of meeting their needs, especially if these cuts continue.

"I think agencies would be wise to prepare for at least that level of cuts," Juvenile Affairs Executive Director Gene Christian said.

The office of Juvenile Affairs and Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials said they've budgeted ahead of time and they will make it through September. For now, they're surviving on a month-to-month basis, if the state cuts continue both agencies have contingency plans in place which they say includes furloughs.

State Treasurer Scott Meacham says the shortfall in revenue is due to the decline on lower energy prices and the recession.