With seven weeks to go until the 56th Oklahoma legislature adjourns for the year, the state is yet to see a budget from lawmakers.
They’ve also missed the statutory deadline to pass an education budget for the 13th year in a row.
Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz said there’s no need to panic.
"Budget work goes on year-round. Our appropriators are never not looking at the budget and working," Schulz said. "I think we're right on time where we need to be in this session to get a product out by the end of May and a balanced budget passed."
Lawmakers are trying to figure out how to fill a budget hole $878 million deeper than it was last year. A group of small, privately held oil and gas firms and House Democrats are eyeing a gross production tax increase to bring in as much as $300 million dollars.
Schulz said lawmakers are talking about it, but he’s not pushing the proposal.
"I'm not a big fan of raising taxes on anybody — any industry, any individual," Schulz said. "I think we need to continue to look for ways to make sure that we're being as efficient as we can be in government agency spending."
All state agencies are likely to see budget cuts for fiscal year 2018.
