What is Oklahoma’s Government ‘Core,’ and What Agencies Can We Eat?

• Joe Wertz
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  Joe Wertz was a reporter and managing editor for StateImpact Oklahoma from 2011-2019. He reported on energy and environment issues for national NPR audiences and other national outlets. He previously worked as a managing editor, assistant editor and staff reporter at several major Oklahoma newspapers and studied journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma.

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“Modernization,” “streamlining” and the search for “efficiencies” are code words for cuts, and a lot of Oklahomans would be happier with a lot less government.

Lawmakers echo their constituents’ sentiments. The trick, they say, is to strip the state government to its most fundamental framework.

But what, exactly, are “core services?”

Traditionally, education, public safety, health and transportation are considered the core agencies of state government.

And those are the ones that get the most state money — more than 80 percent of it. But even these core agencies aren’t immune to budget cuts.

Revenues are up, and lawmakers have $168 million more to appropriate this session than they did last year.

Republican lawmakers have made it clear: they want to use the money for an income tax cut, not for a state agency “spending spree,” to borrow a line from Gov. Mary Fallin.

Oklahoma needs a “right-size” state government, Fallin says.

Your Core

What does right-size mean to you? What services would your ideal Oklahoma have? When it comes to state government, what’s really essential — to you.

Be candid and specific, we want to know. Sound off in the comments, or hit us up on Twitter @StateImpactOK