By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – Lawmakers pass budget bills for FY2010 fix
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) State lawmakers are using money from federal stimulus funds and a state savings account to plug a hole in this year's budget, prevent trooper furloughs and ease cuts for education, health care and prisons.
Although no formal agreement has been announced, special budget committees in the House and Senate on Thursday approved several funding bills to patch the budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30.
The bills would tap $223 million from the state's Rainy Day Fund this year and another $223 million for next year's budget. That would leave about $150 million in the constitutional reserve fund.
Gov. Brad Henry had proposed spending $485 million from the fund on this year's budget and would have to sign any bills passed by the Legislature.