Budget Briefing: Longer Driving Exam Lines Caused by Three Years of Budget Cuts, Officials Say

Oklahoma Officials Blame Budget Cuts, Increased Traffic for Increasingly Longer Driving Exam Lines – “Driver’s license applicants in Oklahoma line up as early as 1:30 a.m. to take their test. Division head said staffing is down 30 percent after three successive years of budget cuts.” NewsOK.com

Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office is Out of Money to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoints for the Year – “The office received about $73,000 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for alcohol enforcement for the year, said Alice Collinsworth, Oklahoma Highway Safety Office spokeswoman. That compares to $110,500 received in 2011.” NewsOK.com

Schools Shocked by More Cuts – “School administrators are reeling from news that they will receive less money to start the academic year because the Oklahoma State Department of Education is reserving more money for anticipated growth, namely at virtual schools and new charter schools.” Tulsa World

State Has Already Given $2.45 Million to Oklahoma Youth Expo, Records Show – “The Oklahoma Youth Expo – beneficiary of a planned $2 million state Agriculture Department donation that has brought controversy – has previously received $2.45 million from the department since 2002, state records show.” Tulsa World