OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma legislators have pushed for more money to go toward public safety, but the budget proposal unveiled by Gov. Mary Fallin and top Republican lawmakers gives only a fraction of its new funding to public safety agencies.
Public safety departments would get just a sliver of the about $270 million of additional funding over last year's budget. None is intended for raises for public safety employees or for relieving stress on the state prison system.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says it's losing troopers because of low pay while the Department of Corrections says it will soon run out of space for inmates unless it receives more money. Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz says the DOC won't get more money until questions about its revolving funds are answered.