The heads of two Oklahoma state agencies say state lawmakers should consider raising the taxes on beer and alcohol. Health Commissioner Terry Cline and Mental Health Commissioner Terri White said Wednesday they can't afford more funds cuts. They said the money would help pay for treatment and to keep many nonviolent convicts out of prison.
The two spoke at the conference of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy in Edmond after a fiscal policy analyst said the state will face a budget shortfall of about $800 million next year. State Treasurer Scott Meacham told The Oklahoman the shortfall will be closer to $450 million. State agency budgets have been cut in the past two years because of budget shortfalls due to the recession.
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