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September 20, 2012

Dorman plans to combat budgetary problems

James Bright The Express-Star

OKLAHOMA — Oklahoma State Representative Joe Dorman (D) has a plan to combat budgetary issues for public school teachers.

In fact, his plan looks to take on every problem with the state legislature's budget process.

"We have to have a healthy discussion with legislatures and make the process more transparent," he said.

Currently, six people are essentially responsible for all state budgetary issues, according to Dorman.

He said this is a major contributing factor to the shortcomings of the public school system's flex account - the money responsible for funding employee health insurance.

"This is how mistakes happen," he said.

A mistake was made during the budgetary process last year, according to Oklahoma Department of Education spokesperson Damon Gardenhire. The state allocated flex money for a 1.5 percent increase in employees, but a 3 percent increase took place. Should the insurance money run out, each school district will be responsible for making up remaining insurance costs.

There is an easy way to fix these problems, Dorman said.

"We need to break into small groups in the legislature and discuss the various areas of the budget from a bipartisan position," he said. "Then we need to come back together and look at the complete budget."

The state legislature meets in February and will have to work together in order to appropriate additional funds to solve this issue. Dorman said in the future, contingency plans need to be in place.

"Obviously we have to have some supplemental appropriations to begin with," he said. "We don't want anyone to fall short."

Oklahoma State House District 56 candidate, David Perryman (D) echoed Dorman's comments.

"It's very frustrating that the house failed to properly calculate a simple mathematical equation," he said. "This indicates to me they didn't take the necessary steps when looking at the budget."

These actions require accountability, according to Perryman.

"If anyone else failed to do this they would be held responsible," he said. The legislature failed to make good budget decisions as a whole."

For now, Gardenhire said each district should have enough money in carryover accounts to make up any left over insurance costs.

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