Senate Appropriations chair, vice-chair comment on revenue figures certified by Board of Equalization

OKLAHOMA CITY – Leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee released the following statements on the state revenue figures certified Friday by the state Board of Equalization.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Chuck Hall, R-Perry:

“In the year following the largest tax cut in state history, this dip in revenue doesn’t come as a surprise, but it reminds us to be careful and deliberate while reviewing proposals for further revenue cuts. We currently have around $1.2 billion in new funding requests from executive branch agencies to consider and nearly $500 million in new capital project requests. This Legislature has a track record of passing sound fiscal policies that have set Oklahoma up for success, breaking a cycle of crippling budget shortfalls like we saw in past years. While the state faces some financial challenges in the upcoming year, I see this as a chance for Oklahoma to eliminate wasteful spending and focus on making government more efficient. I’m confident the Senate, working alongside the House and the governor, will pass a responsible, balanced budget this year that keeps our state government funded, as the constitution requires.”
 

Senate Appropriations Vice-Chair John Haste, R-Broken Arrow:

“The Board of Equalization’s certification of lower revenues for FY 2026 is a clear signal that we must approach this budget cycle with both caution and optimism. We must be mindful of the long-term impact of our decisions to ensure we do not put the state on a bad fiscal trajectory for future budget years. With significant funding requests before us, it is more important than ever to practice fiscal discipline by prioritizing core government services and identifying opportunities to eliminate waste and inefficiencies.”

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For more information, contact Sen. Chuck Hall at (405) 521-2628 or Chuck.Hall@oksenate.gov or Sen. John Haste at (405) 521-5602 or John.Haste@oksenate.gov