Budget Briefing: State Pays County Jails $20M a Year to Hold Prisoners for Transfer

Start your week of with some Oklahoma budget news:

Oklahoma Corrections Department Pays $20 Million Annually to County Jails – “The state Corrections Department pays counties nearly $20 million each year to house inmates awaiting transfer to state-run prisons. The problem, some say, is that prisoners — those already sentenced to terms in Oklahoma prisons — are languishing for months in county jails before transferring out.” NewsOK.com

Tax Refund Debit Cards Draw Criticism – “Some Oklahomans say the state’s efforts to become more efficient are costing them money. They say a recently enacted law that requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to issue refunds on debit cards or by direct deposit in lieu of paper checks is costing them money in fees associated with using the cards.” Tulsa World

Funds Available to Help Oklahomans Cool Homes – “Eligibility is based on the size and the monthly income of the household. The one-time payments are $200 for a one-person household and $250 for a home with two or more people. A one-person household with a monthly income of $998 or less is eligible while a household of eight is eligible if the income is $3449 or less.” Public Radio Tulsa