OU cancer center fund shortfall no problem, officials say

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Lower-than-expected tobacco tax collections should not delay construction of a comprehensive cancer center for the state.<br/><br/>University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center officials

Monday, November 21st 2005, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Lower-than-expected tobacco tax collections should not delay construction of a comprehensive cancer center for the state.

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center officials say construction on the seven-story cancer center should start in 2007 and it should be operating by the end of 2008. It is one of several programs funded by the tobacco tax.

The state's new tobacco tax, which took effect January 1st, is to provide $75-million to build a center in Oklahoma City and a regional cancer center in Tulsa. The nearest comprehensive cancer centers are in Houston, Denver and St. Louis.

The tax is generating about 80 percent of what was estimated for the first four months of this fiscal year, which started July 1st.