Oklahoma

Tulsa, Okla., Mayor Dewey Bartlett said last week the city would provide $3 million of bond proceeds to build a downtown parking garage if the Legislature will approve a $42.5 million issue for a proposed cultural museum in the city.

DALLAS — Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and Republican leaders in the Legislature have agreed on income tax cuts that would reduce state revenue by almost $33 million next year and more than $100 million in fiscal 2014.

DALLAS — Leaders of the Democratic minority in the Oklahoma Senate said Monday they would oppose any of several state bond proposals while Republican-sponsored cuts in the state income tax rate remain on the table.

Oklahoma state revenues of $1.16 billion in April were $83 million more than in April 2011 despite a slide in oil and gas production tax collections.

DALLAS — A continuing decline in severance tax revenues caused by low natural gas prices will not blow a hole in Oklahoma’s proposed fiscal 2013 budget, Finance Secretary Preston Doerflinger said Friday.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin asked for an audit last week of the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum after three lawmakers opposed to a state bond issue for the facility called for the oversight.

Canadian County Independent School District No. 69 will build a new elementary school and two sixth-grade centers with proceeds from $95.2 million of general obligation bonds approved by voters last week.

DALLAS — Oklahoma's two-year streak of monthly revenue growth was halted in March by a drop in energy production tax collections due to a prolonged fall in natural gas prices.

Oklahoma lawmakers are considering $150 million of bonds to finance repairs and renovations at the state capitol that are expected to cost $140 million.

DALLAS — Oklahoma lawmakers have approved five competing measures cutting the state income tax that must be reconciled before the fiscal 2013 budget can be developed.

DALLAS — The Oklahoma Senate adopted a 10-year phaseout of the state's personal income tax Monday that could reduce revenues by more than $4 billion over the next four fiscal years.

February tax revenues of $810 million were $107.4 million more than expected and the 24th time in a row that Oklahoma revenues have been on the increase, Treasurer Ken Miller said last week.

Oklahoma County commissioners last week approved initial steps last week to develop a new 2,800-bed jail that would replace the county’s 13-story lockup in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma Board of Equalization last week approved a new state revenue estimate for fiscal 2013 that totals $6.6 billion, which represents an increase of $47 million from the December estimate and is $168 million higher than in fiscal 2012.

State Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, said last week he expects a lawsuit over the Oklahoma Council of Bond Oversight’s decision to approve $26 million of state lease revenue bonds for a dam project in Tulsa.

More than 75% of Shawnee, Okla., voters last week rejected proposed increases in their property and sales taxes to support $50 million of bonds for civic projects.

DALLAS — Oklahoma sales tax revenue hit a historic peak in January, bringing in $165 million to the general fund.

Tulsa’s sales tax revenues were up 9.5% in December from 2010, Mayor Dewey Bartlett said last week.

DALLAS — The Oklahoma Council of Bond Oversight approved a $26 million state bond issue for dam improvements near Tulsa in a special session Thursday after earlier postponing a decision.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin asked lawmakers Monday to approve a bond issue to repair the deteriorating state capitol in Oklahoma City.