Governor: Allocations Cut To 3 State Agencies, Blames Legislature

Governor Mary Fallin says three state agencies will see a reduction in allocations starting Tuesday because the legislature still haven't reached a budget agreement.

She called state lawmakers back in session last month to fix a $215-million budget shortfall.

9/25/2017 Related Story: First Day Of Special Session Lasts 16 Minutes

Fallin says the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse will all get a reduction in monthly allocations starting Tuesday.

She says the agencies all received that notice on Monday.

“The clock is ticking toward some very serious consequences for nearly one million Oklahomans who depend on services provided by the Department of Mental Health, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Human Services," said Fallin in a statement.

It's not clear yet what services, if any, the agencies will have to cut to balance the reduction.

The budget up for discussion is a six-point compromise on some of the proposals from the previous regular session.

These include the $1.50 cigarette tax, a six-cent per gallon tax on gas, the elimination of the sales tax for wind energy producers and the addition of taxes on so-called luxury services.

It is unclear when state lawmakers will reconvene the special session.