Budget Briefing: More Restrictions on Emergency Unemployment Benefits in Oklahoma

Emergency Enemployment Benefits to Become More Restricted – “Beginning Sept. 3, the maximum number of weeks an unemployment benefit recipient can collect on an Emergency Unemployment Compensation Tier 1 claim will drop to 14 weeks from 20 weeks. About 2,500 Oklahomans apply for those Tier 1 benefits each month, said John Carpenter, spokesman for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.” NewsOK.com

Jazz Hall of Fame Gets Until Sept. 4 to Pay $30,000 in Electric Bills – “The Tulsa County Industrial Authority on Monday deferred until Sept. 4 any action regarding more than $30,000 in unpaid electric bills owed by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. The nonprofit Jazz Hall leases the Union Depot at First Street and Cincinnati Avenue, a facility bought and refurbished by the county with $4 million in Vision 2025 funds.” Tulsa World

Inhofe Calls for Deep Cuts in Jobs, Excluding Military – “U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe wants to cut the federal payroll by 10 percent – but not federal employees paid by the Department of Defense.” Tulsa World

Creek County Sales Tax Increase to Fund Volunteer Fire Depts. – “The commission agreed to put a one-third cent sales tax increase on the November ballot for voters to decide on. Like all of Creek County’s volunteer fire departments, the Silver City Volunteer Fire Department is terribly under-funded. It doesn’t have enough equipment, and the equipment it does have is a bunch of old, unreliable hand-me-downs from the Oklahoma Forestry Department or other regional fire “ FOX23 News