State Agency Consolidation Considered

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Republican leaders in the Oklahoma state House are looking for ways to consolidate some of the 515 state agencies, boards and commissions in Oklahoma.<br/><br/>State House Speaker

Monday, November 5th 2007, 6:16 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Republican leaders in the Oklahoma state House are looking for ways to consolidate some of the 515 state agencies, boards and commissions in Oklahoma.

State House Speaker Lance Cargill plans an interim study this month to look at the number of agencies the state has and how many might be consolidated or eliminated to boost efficiency in state government.

Along with performance pay for teachers, Cargill said modernizing state government will be his top priority in the upcoming legislative session beginning in February.

But some Democrats say any needed agency consolidation could be done within the current budget process if state lawmakers scrutinized agencies and their requests more.

Several agencies have been mentioned as targets for consolidation, including the Oklahoma Alcoholic and Beverage Law Enforcement Commission.