Carmen Forman
The Oklahoman
Gov. Kevin Stitt wants the state to live within its means in the state budget he has proposed for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Stitt on Monday unveiled his executive budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year an $8.3 billion budget that includes socking away $300 million in state savings accounts.
“We ve taken a conservative approach with the fiscal year ‘22 budget as the country and Oklahoma will continue to navigate unknowns in the wake of the pandemic,” said Amanda Rodriguez, the state’s chief financial officer. “What is known is we will continue ensuring every dollar matches the value and vision of Oklahoma becoming a top 10 state.”
Carmen Forman
The Oklahoman
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s third year in office will serve as a fresh start for the Republican who closed out the last legislative session at odds with leaders of Oklahoma’s Legislature.
Forced to respond to the worst health crisis in modern history, the pandemic, budget woes and tension between the governor and legislative leaders derailed most of Stitt s policy agenda last year.
The tension came to a head when Stitt vetoed much of the proposed state budget, which the GOP-led Legislature quickly overturned in a historic rebuke.
In an extensive interview with The Oklahoman on Tuesday, Stitt said he is confident he has mended his relationships with legislative leaders.
Oklahoma Department of Health outsources management of public health lab [The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City]
Dec. 24 The Oklahoma State Department of Health will outsource management of the state’s public health lab.
The state has contracted with Prairie One Solutions, a newly formed subsidiary of the Oklahoma State University Research Foundation, to oversee the public health lab and the future Oklahoma Pandemic Center for Innovation and Excellence.
The new management contract coincides with a decision to move the public health lab from Oklahoma City to Stillwater so the lab and the pandemic center can be housed together.
The move of the state’s public health lab is unlikely to be complete by the end of the year, as state leaders originally thought.