Attorney General Drummond casts doubt on Gov. Stitt’s budget numbers ahead of BOE Meeting
Anna Denison
Published 11:59 AM CST
Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced before Friday's Board of Equalization (BOE) meeting that he has lost confidence in the accuracy of the budget numbers presented by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Drummond criticized the figures as being manufactured to support Stitt’s proposed tax plan.
Drummond’s comments follow his skepticism voiced during the December BOE meeting about the validity of the Governor’s budget and his call for increased legislative involvement to ensure greater transparency.
“I am disappointed but not surprised that the Governor refused to increase legislative involvement in this process, which is far too important to the future of Oklahoma to be monopolized by a single politician,” Drummond said. “The budget certification process is in dire need of reform. The status quo allows the Governor to manufacture budget numbers that support his policy agenda, rather than a consensus approach that would reflect legislative input.”
The Attorney General pointed to discrepancies from last year’s budget certification as evidence that the process is flawed. Drummond referenced the Fiscal Year 2025 budget estimates presented in December 2023, which originally projected $8,976,523,862 available for appropriation. By February, the number had increased to $9,037,537,501—an adjustment that supported the Governor’s push for a proposed income tax cut.
Now, a year later, projected figures for Fiscal Year 2025 are $295 million lower, with the Oklahoma Tax Commission reporting a $408 million revenue drop.
“Last December, we were told one amount, then two months later it was a new number that magically was enough to help pay for the Governor’s tax cut,” Drummond said. “Now the Governor is pushing an even more precarious tax plan, using unreliable economic projections and one-time cash on hand to pay for it.”
Drummond urged the Legislature to revise Stitt’s proposed tax plan into one that balances tax relief with the preservation of essential state funding.
“While I certainly support lowering the tax burden on working families, this tax plan is irresponsible and will drastically harm our ability to fund vital priorities like public education, roads and bridges, and public safety,” Drummond said. “I have no confidence in the Governor’s approach to this matter, but I do believe our legislative leaders will negotiate the best plan for our future. The legislative session is just beginning, and our state senators and state representatives have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to check the Governor’s worst ideas.”
Drummond's announcement comes on the heels of his vote last February, where he was the only member of the BOE to oppose the Governor's budget certification, citing concerns over the reliability of the revenue estimates.
Drummond confirmed he would not be attending Friday's meeting.
“Gov. Stitt has taken what should be a serious, thoughtful and collaborative gathering of constitutional officers and turned it into a scripted event that is mostly for show,” Drummond said. “I will not be participating in that.”
