Governor Keating urges state agencies to tighten belts

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Frank Keating says state officials need to keep a lid on spending to ease financial difficulties down the road. <br><br>In a letter to his executive cabinet, Keating

Thursday, August 15th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Frank Keating says state officials need to keep a lid on spending to ease financial difficulties down the road.

In a letter to his executive cabinet, Keating says July tax collections are down almost fifteen percent compared to last year.

Keating says state agencies should spend wisely to avoid budget cuts at the end of the year.

Keating saysn agencies will have to continue with the in-place hiring freeze and monitor spending so service to the public is not affected.

But another round of budget cuts could be in store no matter what.

Earlier this week the Office of State Finance reported that state revenues for this month were 45 (m) million dollars less than official's had estimated.