Oklahoma

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.

Moody’s Investors Service affirmed its Aa2 ratings and stable outlook on Oklahoma’s $222.5 million of general obligation debt.

Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, said lawmakers need to do their duty and authorize bonds to repair the Oklahoma State Capitol without waiting for a popular vote in November.

DALLAS — Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin will propose an across-the-board cut in the state personal income tax rate at Friday's opening legislative session.

DALLAS — Conservative leaders of national and state anti-tax groups sent Oklahoma lawmakers a message Monday staking out a strict interpretation of a no-new-tax pledge signed by almost every member of the Legislature.

DALLAS — Oklahoma officials seeking an upgrade in the state's credit touted its strong economy and sound fiscal policies in talks last week with rating agencies.

Republicans in the Oklahoma House will back only a state bond proposal to repair the deteriorating state capitol this year, despite requests for other efforts.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will ask lawmakers for a five-year program of $54 million in annual bond sales to reduce a $271 million backlog in the state’s endowed chair program.

Last week’s report from Oklahoma’s Task Force on Comprehensive Tax Reform said the state’s top personal income tax should be cut by 0.5% over the next two years from a ceiling of 5.25% in 2012 to 4.75% by 2014.

Oklahoma tax collections could reach pre-recession levels by mid-2012, Treasurer Ken Miller said Wednesday, as the state economy builds on gains achieved in 2011. "We saw a quickened pace of the recovery for 2011," he said.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said last week that the state must repair and maintain its capitol building in Oklahoma City despite the outlook for a flat general fund budget in fiscal 2013.

The Oklahoma Board of Equalization last week adopted an official revenue estimate for fiscal 2013 that will give budget writers $400 million more than was available for the fiscal 2012 budget.

General fund revenues in November exceeded November 2011 collections by 22.6% thanks to increased oil exploration and production, Oklahoma finance director Preston Doerflinger said last week.