OKLAHOMA CITY — The state Department of Transportation will start next fiscal year with $28.5 million less to spend due to budget cuts and funding changes last legislative session, agency Executive Director Mike Patterson said Monday.
A portion of the reduction in revenues came via the state budget compromise hammered out by legislative leaders and Gov. Mary Fallin during the session, which ended last month. ODOT was among several state agencies to receive a 5.5 percent reduction in fiscal 2015 funding.
For ODOT, the 5.5 percent reduction will mean the loss of slightly more than $11 million in fuel tax revenues, Patterson said.
“It will be difficult … but we will get through it,” Patterson told the state Transportation Commission during its monthly meeting.
The 2015 fiscal year begins July 1. ODOT’s total budget, including federal funds, will be about $1.8 billion.
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Patterson said details on how the cuts will be implemented are not finalized but said the reduction wouldn’t affect the agency’s eight-year construction work plan “at all.”
Rather, Patterson said ODOT will be looking to reduce spending on equipment next year. Some reduction in personnel spending is possible, but layoffs will not be necessary, he said.
The Legislature also took $17.5 million in ODOT revolving fund revenues generated by weigh station operations.
“So we are going to have to make some operational adjustments there as well,” Patterson said.
“Likely, all weigh stations will remain open; it’s just how much improvements will be made,” Patterson said. “Many of those weigh stations are old and functionally obsolete.”
Patterson said the reduction in weigh station revolving fund revenues won’t impact spending on new so-called port-of-entry weigh and inspection stations at the state’s borders.
What it eventually will affect is maintenance at the current weigh stations or operations at the permitting office, Patterson said.
In other matters, the Transportation Commission approved:
A $2.1 million road improvement project for the area surrounding the new Macy’s Fulfillment Center in north Tulsa County. The project will result in improvements at two locations on East 76th Street North, North Sheridan Road and 75th East Avenue.
A $7.2 million bid from Sherwood Construction Co., Inc. for the construction of a bridge on Oklahoma 82 over Fourteen Mile Creek and Thompson Branch Creek, about 10 miles north of U.S. 62 in Muskogee County.
