State Treasurer's Budget Cut Meets Critical Response from Capitol Insider

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK-- State Treasurer Ken Miller's claim to slash his budget for the 2013 Fiscal Year meets criticism from a capitol insider.

Last Thursday, Miller said he would slash $190,000 out of his annual budget, but documents from a capitol insider show the Oklahoma State Treasurer's Office spent more than $155,000 on office renovations last year. 

The capitol insider who gave Fox-25 the documents asked not to be identified, but said this one time transaction was easily eliminated in the treasury's budget, and does not reflect the department becoming a better steward of taxpayer dollars.

"That's just silly," said Miller, in response to the insider's claims.

Miller says the investment on renovations comes as the Treasurer's Office consolidates three offices into one.  He says with this consolidation also comes personnel cuts. 

"We've been very forward with what we're trying to do in the state treasury," said Miller.

Miller says the Treasurer's Office has downsized from 72 employees in 2006, to 45 employees in 2012.  Although records show a gradual decrease in personnel over time, documents from the capitol insider show much of the personnel cuts in 2012 resulted from employees being transferred to another department at the capitol.  The capitol insider says this still costs the state money.

"I can only control my agency," responded Miller.

Despite critical response to his effort to save the state money, Miller says the focus of budget talks should not be on him.

"I really think the focus should be on those that have asked for budget increases," he said, "I don't think it's sensational that we ask for less."
 

Posted: Monday, February 18 2013, 09:47 PM CST