Leftwich Supports Budget Board Change

State Senator Debbe Leftwich, chair of the Senate Business and Labor Committee, wants more county officials to be part of the budget making process for county budgets.

Leftwich (D-Oklahoma City) filed Senate Bill 1576 known as the “The County Budget Act” which modifies the way a county determines or chooses to be part of the county budget board process.

This bill would expand the number of budget board members to include both county commissioners and other elected county officers.

The bill would also require a majority vote on any action taken by the budget board.

“Last year, Oklahoma County Commissioners voted to dissolve its budget board which had eight people on it and replace it with just the three county commissioners overseeing all budget issues,” Leftwich said. “Prior to that every officer had an equal say on how the budget works.”

Jim Roth, a Democratic Oklahoma County Commissioner, said he is in favor of returning to the eight-man budget board format in Oklahoma County.

“With the current process you have a diminished voice,” Roth said. “Re-instituting the budget board gives citizens a greater voice by involving all eight county employees instead of three. “It provides a better internal control checks and balances.”

Leonard Sullivan, Oklahoma County Assessor added that he too wanted to go back to the original plan.

“I want to go back to the original budget board and have eight people looking over it,” Sullivan said.

Butch Freeman, Oklahoma County Treasurer said he supports having Oklahoma County return to its original budget board format.

“I am very supportive of the budget board bill,” Freeman said.