OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma House Speaker Jeff Hickman says state leadershave reached an agreement on a $7.1 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year that will be just $37 million less than the current budget.
By raiding the state's Rainy Day Fund, Unclaimed Property Fund and agency revolving accounts, Hickman said Tuesday that budget writers managed to nearly close the $611 million shortfall in this year's budget.
Under the plan, funding for public schools in Oklahoma remains flat at about $2.5 billion, and the state Department of Health was also unharmed. Colleges and universities will be cut by about 3.5 percent.
While most agencies will receive cuts of around 7 percent, Hickman says the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and Department of Corrections both will get modest increases.