Oklahoma panel certifies $2B more for lawmakers to spend

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A panel led by Gov. Kevin Stitt says Oklahoma lawmakers will have about $2 billion more to spend in next year’s budget than they did in the current one.

The Board of Equalization on Friday certified that the Legislature will have $12.6 billion to spend in the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

That’s an increase of more $2 billion from last year’s $10.6 billion in authorized spending.

The Legislature also has another $1.4 billion stashed away in state savings accounts and $700 million that was appropriated last year to help lure a manufacturing facility to Oklahoma that didn’t materialize.