© 2024 Public Radio Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2577

A listener-supported service of The University of Tulsa
classical 88.7 | public radio 89.5
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Trooper Cut-Backs

KWGS News File Photo

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla's new patrol boss warns of trooper furloughs

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The new commissioner of Oklahoma's Department of Public Safety is warning lawmakers that furloughing troopers and other personnel is one of the few ways the agency has to respond to looming budget cuts.

Commissioner Michael Thompson outlined his budget proposal yesterday to a Senate budget panel, which grilled him on how the agency is prioritizing its spending.

Committee chairman Sen. Jonathan Nichols says he's a strong supporter of public safety, but expressed concern that agencies like DPS may be "hedging agency budgets" and carrying over millions of dollars to soften the blow of budget cuts.

Thompson says the agency will look for any savings that will prevent trooper furloughs, but that personnel costs account for more than 90 percent of the agency's budget.