Senate to consider state budget bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Senate plans to debate a $7.1 billion budget plan to fund state government and services in the upcoming year.

The Senate plans to take up the bill on Thursday, one day after the state House voted 54-42 for the general appropriations bill that will fund much of state government for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The budget plan taps dozens of agency revolving accounts and other one-time sources of money to ease cuts to state agencies and close a $611 million budget hole. Budget writers diverted about $70 million from a program that funds improvements to county roads and bridges to help close the hole.

Lawmakers must approve the measure before they are constitutionally required to adjourn on May 29.