Finance official raises concern over Oklahoma's budget

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A $5.4 billion budget agreement announced by legislative leaders contains more holes than substance, State Finance Director Tom Daxon said Wednesday. <br><br>Daxon summoned reporters

Thursday, April 4th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A $5.4 billion budget agreement announced by legislative leaders contains more holes than substance, State Finance Director Tom Daxon said Wednesday.

Daxon summoned reporters to his office to raise questions about whether the budget addresses ``serious'' problems such as prison funding and paying bond obligations.

On Tuesday, leaders of the Democratic majority announced a budget agreement that will fund a $35 million increase in health benefits for teachers and school workers, while cutting the budgets of other agencies by $276 million.

Soon after the announcement, Gov. Frank Keating called the agreement ``an excellent first step.''

But Daxon said his office had not been kept apprised of budget issues and said he needs more details before he can recommend that the governor sign appropriation bills.

Daxon said he hoped the proposed cuts would not hit prisons, forcing the early release of inmates or putting the state at risk of a court order on inmate overcrowding.

He noted the governor's office has recommended $25 million in supplemental funding and said prisons will need ``at least that much'' to make ends meet.

Other questions that remain to be answered, he said, include bond payment obligation, making federal buildings meet federal disability guidelines and funding a veterans center in Lawton.

He said the $35 million for school employee health benefits was just about half of what Keating proposed.

``I'm just prepared to say there are more holes than there is substance at this point,'' he said.

House Speaker Larry Adair and Senate President Stratton Taylor said many details of the budget still need to be worked out.

``As anyone knows, this is just the beginning of the final budget writing process,'' said Taylor, D-Claremore.

``I wasn't aware that we needed to get the state finance director's approval on this,'' said Adair, D-Stilwell. ``The governor was fairly complimentary, from the reports I've heard.''

``Unless someone has changed the state constitution without our knowledge, Gov. Keating is still responsible for approving the final budget, not Tom Daxon,'' Taylor said.