Budget Briefing: The Sharp Decline of the State Workforce

The Shrinking State Employee Workforce – “In the wake of three consecutive years of steep budget cuts, the number of state employees staffing correctional facilities, inspecting restaurants and nursing homes, serving victims of abuse and neglect, and performing other public functions has declined sharply.” Oklahoma Policy Institute

Oklahoma Tribes’ Millions to be Controlled by District Judge – “A Custer County district judge has taken control of $6.4 million belonging to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, ordering the funds held in a court-supervised account until two feuding factions within the tribes can reach an agreement.” NewsOK.com

Affordable Care Act Already Helping, Feds Say – “Thousands of Oklahoma Medicare clients have received more than $35.1 million in prescription drug discounts with the Affordable Care Act, according to a report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and distributed by the White House.” Tulsa World

Hotel/Motel Tax Revenue Use to be Studied by Task Force – “The money is being used to pay off bonds first issued in the early 1980s to build a new exhibit hall on the west side of the Tulsa Convention Center. ‘I don’t want to assume that it should be continued,’ City Council Chairman G.T. Bynum told fellow councilors last week. Tulsa World