STATE OF OKLAHOMA SUBMITTED BY MARY FALLIN, GOVERNOR TO THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 53RD OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE EXECUTIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2013 Mary Fallin Office of the Governor State of Oklahoma To the Citizens of the Great State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Legislature: It is my pleasure to submit for your consideration the FY‐2013 executive budget. The plan I have put forward is a responsible budget that accomplishes the goals of reducing the tax burden on Oklahoma citizens, supporting core government functions, holding the line on spending and demanding a more efficient and effective state government. The tax proposal submitted within this budget, titled the “Oklahoma Tax Reduction and Simplification Act,” provides immediate tax relief while setting the state on a course to completely eliminate the personal income tax. It is a bold, game‐changing plan that will allow Oklahomans to keep more of their hard earned money, stimulate job growth and make Oklahoma a more attractive place to locate or expand businesses. It is also a responsible plan that benefits Oklahomans in all income tax brackets and that recognizes the need to adequately fund state services. Addressing our budget needs for FY‐2013 is only part of the important task that lies before us. Continuing to improve our educational institutions and to build a more highly skilled, better educated workforce will be essential to maintaining Oklahoma’s impressive economic growth in years to come. Included also in this budget are proposals to invest in major improvements in Oklahoma’s highway transportation system, currently ranked as one of the worst in the nation. By repairing all currently known structurally deficient highway bridges, Oklahoma can become a leader in transportation, and thus further stimulate job growth and economic development. Energy will also continue to be a priority in Oklahoma, as it has always been. While Oklahoma is destined to remain a leader in production, energy efficiency is an area that requires major improvement. This document outlines key steps that can be taken to increase efficiency and save taxpayer dollars. Finally, Oklahoma’s poor health indicators continue to generate personal tragedy while dragging down the state’s economy. Several key programs to increase access to care and to reward healthy life choices are included in this year’s budget. I ask the Legislature and the Citizens of Oklahoma to come together in support of this agenda. If we do so, I am certain we can rise above the current budget struggles and emerge as a stronger, healthier state. Sincerely, Mary Fallin Governor STATE CAPITOL BUILDING 2300 N. LINCOLN BLVD., SUITE 212 OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73105-4801 (405) 521-2342 FAX (405) 521-3353 OKLAHOMA OFFICE OF STATE FINANCE February 6, 2012 Citizens of the State of Oklahoma Members of the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-Third Legislature Governor Mary Fallin’s FY-2013 budget consists of the following two documents. Both are available on the Internet. You can view them by accessing the Oklahoma Home Page, the Home Page of the Office of the Governor, or the Home Page of the Office of State Finance. The Oklahoma Home Page address is: http://www.ok.gov. “FY-2013 EXECUTIVE BUDGET, Volume I” This document contains Governor Fallin’s budget recommendations to the 2012 Legislature. It includes a discussion of state revenues, a summary of her proposed budget and explanations of budget recommendations for state agencies. “FY-2013 EXECUTIVE BUDGET, Volume II- HISTORICAL DATA” This document is available online and includes detailed historical financial information about each agency of state government. The information is arranged by Cabinet Department and Branch of Government. The individual display for each agency/entity of government includes the following: Mission of the Agency Description of the Board/Commission that governs the agency Description of agency Duties/Responsibilities Constitutional and Statutory References related to the entity Information regarding agency workload Expenditure and personnel data for FY-2010, FY-2011 and FY-2012 2300 North Lincoln Boulevard, Room 122, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4801 Telephone (405) 521-2141 FAX (405) 521-3902 Executive Summary FY‐2013 Executive Budget Governor Fallin’s FY‐2013 Agenda Tax Reform Governor Fallin believes that lower taxes lead to job creation, increased productivity and greater prosperity. To further reduce the tax burden on working Oklahomans and to stimulate economic growth, the governor has proposed the Oklahoma Tax Reduction and Simplification Act. The governor’s plan represents the boldest, most significant income tax reduction in state history. In her words, it is a “game changer” for Oklahoma. Oklahoma Tax Reduction and Simplification Act Governor Fallin’s tax proposal replaces Oklahoma’s complicated seven bracket income tax structure, which taxes the first penny that every Oklahoman makes, with three new lower, flatter and simpler rates. These tax cuts would go into effect on January 1, 2013. This plan represents a tax cut for the vast majority of taxpayers in every income bracket without increasing other taxes, or shifting the burden on to others. Furthermore, the governor’s plan achieves a large, across‐the‐board tax cut while protecting core government services without adversely affecting the working poor and middle class. Governor Fallin’s Plan vs. Current Structure Single Returns Governor Fallin’s Plan Current Structure Bracket Taxable Income Tax Rate Bracket Taxable Income Tax Rate 1 $0 under $15,000 0.000% 1 $0 under $1,000 0.50% 2 $15,000 under $35,000 2.250% 2 $1,000 under $2,500 1.00% 3 $35,000 and above 3.500% 3 $2,500 under $3,750 2.00% 4 $3,750 under $4,900 3.00% 5 $4,900 under $7,200 4.00% 6 $7,200 under $8,700 5.00% 7 $8,700 and above 5.25% Married Joint, Head of Household, Surviving Spouse Returns Governor Fallin’s Plan Current Structure Bracket Taxable Income Tax Rate Bracket Taxable Income Tax Rate 1 $0 under $30,000 0.000% 1 $0 under $2,000 0.50% 2 $30,000 under $70,000 2.250% 2 $2,000 under $5,000 1.00% 3 $70,000 and above 3.500% 3 $5,000 under $7,500 2.00% 4 $7,500 under $9,800 3.00% 5 $9,800 under $12,200 4.00% 6 $12,200 under $15,000 5.00% 7 $15,900 and above 5.25% A‐1 FY‐2013 Executive Budget A Path to Prosperity Reductions in the personal income tax will increase individual purchasing power and business expansion, which will result in increased revenues from other sources, such as the sales tax, corporate income tax, excise tax and other tax revenues. In terms of growth, employment, and other economic indicators, we know that on average, low‐taxed states outperform high‐taxed states. According to Americans for Prosperity, “over the past decade, non‐income tax states have seen 59 percent economic growth, versus just 38 percent for high‐income tax states.” In addition, “job growth has been 4.7 percent in the non‐income‐tax states, while high‐income tax states actually lost 2.9 percent of their jobs.” Today, Oklahoma ranks 38th in the nation in terms of the individual income tax rate according to the Tax Foundation. At the start of Fiscal Year 2011, the states with the lowest top statutory income tax rate include Pennsylvania at 3.07 percent, Indiana at 3.4%, Michigan at 4.35 percent, Arizona at 4.54 percent and Colorado at 4.63 percent. Governor Fallin’s tax cut places Oklahoma squarely in competition with those lower‐taxed states at a top statutory income rate of 3.5 percent, and would rank the state as the second‐lowest in the region among Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas. After 2013, the governor proposes further reductions by cutting the remaining income tax an additional quarter point in every year where the state of Oklahoma hits a revenue growth trigger of 5%; eventually eliminating the income tax for every Oklahoman. Governor Fallin’s income tax plan is a bold, responsible and pro‐economic growth measure that will lead to greater prosperity for all Oklahomans for decades to come. Tax Credits and Transparency Governor Fallin recognizes that the current tax credit structure in Oklahoma often forces the state to pick winners and losers. That is why the governor plans to eliminate tax credits that cost the state approximately $200 million under the current tax structure in order to produce savings within government, eliminate waste and ensure that all Oklahomans in every income tax bracket are winners by allowing them to keep more of what they have worked so hard for. In addition, Governor Fallin supports efforts to increase and expand transparency to the current tax expenditure reporting system and state Open Books web site, by providing more details on all state tax provisions such as present and future cost estimates, the number of recipients, and more. Additional savings In addition, Governor Fallin’s simplification of the system will save the Oklahoma Tax Commission an estimated $300,000 in processing, printing and mailing costs in Fiscal Year 2014. This represents savings that could be used to hire five to six additional compliance officers who could help generate more than $2 million a year in uncollected sales and use tax. Teachers’ Retirement System and Ad Valorem Acknowledging the income tax reduction’s effects to other funds, Governor Fallin proposes to appropriate $7.9 million to OTRS and the Ad Valorem Reimbursement Fund to ensure each is funded as promised in FY‐2013. A‐2 FY‐2013 Executive Budget Government Efficiency Performance Measurement As shareholders in the business of state government, the public must be confident in the efficiency and efficacy of the “organization.” To ensure Oklahomans have that certainty, and to reduce government waste and increase accountability within agencies, the governor recommends revamping the statewide performance measurement system to provide a framework of accountability.