A group of state senators wants to change Oklahoma’s budgeting process for certain agencies.
Sen. Roger Thompson has introduced legislation that would see agencies receiving more than $100 million go through a line-item review of all their programs with lawmakers. Thompson said that’s how it used to be done.
"2009 was the last time that we have seen this here, and we believe it's time to bring this back to government and time to be involved with these agencies all during the interim and time to find out their core needs and then be with them in writing the budget," Thompson said. "We believe that's what's responsible."
Sen. AJ Griffin said the goal is to start a conversation with agencies and disrupt the current budget process.
"So that the agencies that are operating the programs that our citizens demand are doing so with adequate funding," Griffin said. "That does not necessarily mean increased funding. The word 'adequate' implies that we are paying for what we are asking them to do."
Thompson said collaborative budgeting could help uncover wasteful spending or it could find places without enough funding.
"For me to be able to say, 'They need to live within their means,' I need to know what their means are. I need to know where every dollar is being spent," Thompson said. "If they receive more than $100 million, we ought to know that."
Agencies receiving more than $100 million a year account for nearly 90 percent of the state budget. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, however, would be constitutionally exempted from line-item budgeting.
Senate Bill 875 will be taken up during the next legislative session.
