Governor, Senate leaders comment on FY2021 Budget certification figures

GOVERNOR STITT ISSUES STATEMENT ON OKLAHOMA BOARD OF EQUALIZATION CERTIFICATION

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (December 20, 2019) – Governor Kevin Stitt today issued the following statement after the state Board of Equalization certified an estimate indicating lawmakers will have $8.3 billion to build a budget for the 2021 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2020.

“Oklahoma’s state revenues are beginning to plateau after losing more than 60% of oil and gas drilling activity since this time last year. The fiscal discipline displayed in the FY’20 budget, by setting aside an extra $200 million to achieve $1 billion in savings, is already proving its value in protecting core public services and strengthening the state’s credit rating. Despite these changes in revenue collections, the State of Oklahoma remains on strong footing. It is critical we protect it by demonstrating fiscal restraint and efficiency in the FY’21 budget process and by continuing to advance policies that encourage job creation and economic diversity.”

During the meeting, Stitt gave attention to a one-time cash source of $310 million as part of the spending authority estimate. Without this one time source, the revenue projection for FY’21 would be 3.7 percent less than FY’20.

The Board of Equalization will return in February to certify a final estimate on how much lawmakers will have to build a budget during the upcoming legislative session.

Senate Pro Tem, Appropriations chair comment on revenue certification

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Senate Republican leadership commented Friday on the state Board of Equalization’s preliminary revenue certification.

“Overall, we are cautiously optimistic about the revenue outlook for next year. While there is concern in the decline in gross production taxes collected on natural gas, other sectors of the economy are performing well and helping to fill in that revenue gap. Additionally, steps taken by the Legislature in recent years to shore up our financial standing are working. The Senate will resume its work on budget hearings and examining agency budget requests as we await the final certification numbers due in February upon which the Legislature will write the budget,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

The Board of Equalization certified more than $8.3 billion for Fiscal Year 2021, a $9.3 million (0.1 percent) increase from Fiscal Year 2020.

“Any growth in a budget is good, but we have to be cautious in our outlook and continue to monitor economic conditions as we prepare the budget. And before the first drop of ink is spilled in writing the state budget, we already have nearly $200 million in obligations for things like the ad valorem reimbursements to schools, the bond debt on the Capitol, and increased costs for teacher health care benefits. The Senate appropriators have already held budget hearings, and we’ll keep doing our work and crunching the numbers to ensure we maximize every tax dollar as we write next year’s budget,” said Senator Roger Thompson, R-Okemah and Senate Appropriations Committee chair.

The state Board of Equalization was established in 1907 in the state Constitution. The board issues an official estimate of the revenue available for the Oklahoma Legislature to spend in the coming budget year. The board members include the governor, lieutenant governor, state auditor and inspector, state treasurer, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and the president of the board of agriculture.

The board will meet again in February to issue the final revenue certification upon which the Legislature will write the next budget.

from MuskogeePolitico.com

Governor, Senate Pro Tem appoint members to OK Transportation Commission

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO OKLAHOMA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Oklahoma City, Okla. (April 8, 2019) – Governor Kevin Stitt announced today five appointments to the Oklahoma Transportation Commission.

“We are proud to welcome five new members to the Oklahoma Transportation Commission,” said Gov. Stitt. “All of the commissioners are qualified leaders who have dedicated their careers to growing and investing in Oklahoma. I look forward to working with them to ensure we have a safe and efficient transportation network.” 

The appointments are as follows:

District 5: David Dyson, of Elk City, currently serves as the Dealer at Barber-Dyson Ford Lincoln. Dyson bought the dealership in 1994 and has run a successful business since. For a quarter century Barber-Dyson Ford Lincoln has been the number one selling car dealer between Oklahoma City and Amarillo, Texas. They have won the President’s Award three times, which is the highest award possible with Ford Motor Company. Dyson holds an Associate of Arts in Ag Business from Oklahoma State University.

District 6: Bobby J. Alexander, of Woodward, was appointed to the Oklahoma Transportation Commission by Gov. Mary Fallin in April 2011. He represents District Six, a nine-county area in northwestern Oklahoma and the panhandle. He graduated from Seminole High School in 1973 and from Kilgore College in Texas in 1977 with a degree in oil and gas technology. Alexander is currently the founder and CEO of Power Rig LLC, a position he has held since 2008. He has been very active in Woodward, serving on the Woodward Hospital board, Woodward Airport Authority board, Woodward Convention Center board and the Bank 7 board. He is also a past president of the Independent Association of Drilling Contractors and a member of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association.

District 7:  Stephen J. LaForge, of Chickasha, currently serves as the President and Owner of LaForge Properties, LLC, Ace Investments, Inc. and other real estate owning entities. Prior to this, he served as the President and Owner of Labco Construction, Inc., during which he completed over $20,000,000 worth of construction projects as a general contractor in five states. LaForge served on the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority from 1995 to 2003 where he held the position of Secretary/Treasurer. An active member of the Chickasha community, LaForge is a member of the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce, a board member on the Chickasha Economic Development Council, a member of both the Oklahoma and National Society of Professional Engineers, and a board member on the Chickasha Industrial Authority. LaForge holds a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas.

District 8:  Bob A. Peterson, of Tulsa, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Melton Truck Lines, a long-haul flatbed trucking company headquartered in Tulsa, OK. Melton currently operates 1,300 late model over-the-road trucks, over 2,000 open-deck flatbed trailers and employs over 1,600 people. Melton also operates four other facilities including a substantial facility in Laredo, TX. Mr. Peterson began his career in trucking by obtaining a Commercial Drivers License, which he maintains currently. From 1985 to 1989, he worked at Contract Freighters, Inc., of Joplin, MO, lastly as Executive Vice President of Operations. He served as President of GlasTran, Inc., a start-up trucking company he founded in 1989 before merging it with Melton in 1991. Prior to that his professional experience included executive management positions in venture capital, bank management, and public accounting. Mr. Peterson holds a BA in Economics and Environmental Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He has practiced as a Certified Public Accountant.

At-Large:  V. Gene McKown, of Norman, is a longtime builder, developer, rancher, business owner, and philanthropist. After completing his degree in agriculture and business from Oklahoma State University, he became a Realtor, went into the homebuilding business and has been a builder in Norman, Okla., since 1969, building over 10,000 homes in the Oklahoma City area. Over the course of his career, McKown has developed and managed over 30 real estate developments, but he is best known as co-owner and president of development for Ideal Homes. Founded in 1990 by McKown, and his son Vernon, Ideal Homes builds 400 new homes annually, with more than $75 million in sales each year. Long known as a pioneer for energy efficiency, the company was the first Builder in America to build affordable Energy Star homes and constructed the first affordable zero energy home in America. Other recognitions include consecutive National Housing Quality Awards, America’s Best Builder and National Builder of the Year. In 2010 Ideal Homes built a home for a local family in need for an episode of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Most recently, McKown partnered with local non-profit Food and Shelter where he served as a fundraiser and major contributor to construct 32 fully furnished cottages. As a result of his lifetime of giving back, McKown received the Sam Matthews Social Justice Award from the Xenia Institute for Social Justice in 2017. He served as commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for 12 years, chairman of the State Industrial Development Department and president of the Norman Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Board of Directors for Security National Bank & Trust Company, the Norman Legacy Foundation and the McKown Family Foundation.

Senate Pro Tem appoints Don Freymiller to transportation commission

Don Freymiller

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat announced on Monday his appointment of Don Freymiller of Edmond to serve as a commissioner on the state transportation commission.

Freymiller is the second of two appointments Pro Tem Treat has made to the transportation commission under a new law that gives the governor the ability to hire the head of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and gives the governor, House speaker, and Senate president pro tempore appointments to the transportation commission.

“It is important that we continue the progress made in recent years to improve and modernize the state transportation infrastructure, especially our roads and bridges. Don Freymiller’s background and experience means he’s well suited to help oversee and carry out the critical mission of the state Transportation Department,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

Freymiller previously served as chairman and chief executive officer of Freymiller Trucking, Inc. before selling the company in 1996. Since then, he’s served as chairman of the board for D&M Carriers, LLC, (dba Freymiller) a 48-state common carrier.

“I appreciate Senator Treat for appointing me to this important position. Having worked in the trucking industry, I know the importance transportation infrastructure plays in growing the economy. I look forward to working with the leadership at the Transportation Department and the commission to help improve our roads, bridges, and other infrastructure,” Freymiller said.

from MuskogeePolitico.com