Rep. Cody Maynard
Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd this week released the first part of her audit report for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The report estimates the short-term financial needs of the department but is not the final investigation.
The auditor shows a supplemental funding need of almost $28.7 million for the department to make payroll and reimburse care providers through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025, which goes through June 30.
The Legislature this week approved supplemental funding of just over $31.5 million for the payment of agency payroll as part of our overall general appropriations bill, House Bill 2766, which takes effect in part upon the governor’s signature.
Also awarded to the department will be an additional $9.48 million to meet the obligations of a consent decree negotiated earlier this year to settle a 2023 lawsuit against the department. The agency is alleged to have violated the rights of pretrial defendants who were declared incompetent to stand trial and are waiting for competency restoration treatment.
The auditor said even this abbreviated report reveals some glaring financial and systemic issues at the massive agency that has an annual budget of more than $750 million. She says the department needs a director with executive managerial experience and a mastery of basic budgetary and compliance skills.
The report also highlights a number of high-dollar executive hires and “questionable spending” on a Super Bowl commercial and Narcan machines as contributing to the financial disarray at the agency.
It’s apparent this agency needs more scrutiny, transparency and accountability going forward.
Meanwhile, the House and the Senate this week passed the overall general appropriations bill as well as more than 50 bills that set limits on spending for various agencies and the programs they administer. The bills soon will move to the governor for his consideration of signing them into law.
Here in our House district, most are well aware of the recent storm damage that took place to the U.S. 70/Roosevelt Bridge. The most recent report from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation at the time of this writing is that all lanes of the bridge and causeway are currently open between State Park Road and Williow Springs Road, over Lake Texoma between Kingston and Mead. Traffic has been shifted away from the flood damage at the causeway (not on the bridge); the bridge remains safe. Driving lane widths are narrow, and the speed limit is reduced to 35 mph. Drivers should slow down, set aside distractions and stay alert. Conditions could continue to change.
ODOT crews and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol monitored the site overnight. Oversized loads remain restricted. Repairs will be made to the causeway in the coming weeks. Weather permitting, crews were to resume striping Friday, which could slow travel briefly during the day.
Future updates can be found on ODOT’s website under travel and traffic advisories: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/travel/traffic/traffic-advisories.html.
Monday is Memorial Day. I hope all will pause to remember members of our U.S. armed forces who died while serving our country. There is no greater sacrifice, and they deserve our honor as we continue to live in safety and liberty.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve. It’s an honor to represent the great people of District 21.