The final hours: a news brief for the end of the 2025 legislative session

I have been swamped with work, family, and church activities for the last few weeks, and it's taken a big toll on my blogging time availability, so I'm going to attempt a brief summary here of just 16 of the 100+ news and press releases I've received in the past two weeks, including the state budget agreement, income tax cuts, economic development projects, audits, and more.

In order of what I feel is most newsworthy:

• May 26th: When “Shall” Becomes “May”: Why the People of Oklahoma Face a Dangerous Four Days Ahead. This is a must-read from what it swiftly becoming the best grassroots conservative coverage of legislative shenanigans, authored by former State Rep. Jason Murphey. You need to subscribe to his newsletter.

Deevers pulls SB1017, moves forward with plans to improve student care, transparency, and parental rights

Deevers Pulls SB1017, Moves Forward with Plans to Improve Student Care, Transparency, and Parental Rights

OKLAHOMA CITY — Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, remains unwavering in his commitment to ensuring Oklahoma's special education resources serve the students who need them. After hearing from parents, speech therapists, and education advocates, Deevers has pulled SB1017 while requesting an audit to ensure that school-based services are serving kids with disabilities efficiently and effectively. He also released the following statement.

“Over the past several days, I have given extensive thought to SB1017 and engaged in discussions with countless loving and amazing teachers, therapists, parents, and concerned citizens. One thing remains clear: these students’ essential educational services must be protected. I have also heard, unequivocally, from parents who do not want to lose oversight of their children’s medical decisions as well as therapists and teachers who see the problems in the system that this bill was trying to address.

State Auditor: forensic audit finds gross mismanagement in city of Lindsay

FORENSIC AUDIT REVEALS GROSS MISMANAGEMENT IN CITY OF LINDSAY

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (November 13, 2024) Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector [SA&I] Cindy Byrd today released her forensic audit report for the City of Lindsay in Garvin County. Auditor Byrd launched the investigation after receiving a request from District Attorney Greg Mashburn.

The SA&I investigated the city’s financial records from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022. The audit uncovered significant mismanagement and a failure of Lindsay City Council members to provide proper oversight of expenditures.

State Auditor: audit shows town of Red Rock misappropriated 39% of expenditures

FORENSIC AUDIT SHOWS TOWN OF RED ROCK MISAPPROPRIATED 39% OF EXPENDITURES

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (October 1, 2024) -- Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector [SA&I] Cindy Byrd today released her forensic audit report for the Town of Red Rock in Noble County. Auditor Byrd launched the investigation after receiving a request from District Attorney Brian Hermanson.

The SA&I investigation covered a five-year period between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023. The audit exposed a significant number of questionable expenditures among the Town Clerk/Treasurer and Town Board members. 

Election Board: post-election audits confirm 100% accuracy of June elections

Post-Election Audits Confirm Accuracy of June Elections

(August 26th) On Monday, State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax announced that post-election audits conducted following Oklahoma's June Primary Elections confirmed the accuracy of the state's voting system with a 100% match of the certified election results.

Drummond comments on audit findings, calls for Zumwalt resignation

Drummond comments on audit findings, calls for Zumwalt resignation

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 23, 2024) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following statement today in response to the latest audit findings of State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd:

“The audit findings released today show troubling and all too familiar patterns of mismanagement, costing taxpayers millions as a result. Today’s report confirms my previous order of an investigative audit of OMES, which is sorely needed and long overdue.

State Auditor finds systemic lack of oversight at critical state agency

Oklahoma's official government watchdog, State Auditor Cindy Byrd, is out with an absolutely scorching audit of OMES, finding all sorts of improprieties:

FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT UNCOVERS OMES LACK OF OVERSIGHT

“I believe Oklahoma is rapidly becoming a no-bid state. This is a grave disservice to the taxpayers.”

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 23, 2024) -- Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector (SAI) Cindy Byrd today released the Federal Single Audit of expenditures made during FY 2022. This annual audit is a federally-mandated examination of whether the State of Oklahoma spent federal grant money in compliance with federal regulations.

The audit report covers more than $13 Billion of expenditures which are audited through a formula provided by the federal government. A majority of the $13 Billion came from COVID relief funds.

The most compelling information revealed in this audit is that COVID allowed the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to establish a new set of rules for vendor contracts. SAI has determined these new rules are not in the best interest of Oklahoma taxpayers.

State Election Board: post-election audits confirm results of recent legislative races

Post-Election Audits Confirm Results of Recent Legislative Races

(Oklahoma City, February 29th) – The State Election Board announced today that post-election audits conducted last week confirmed the results of the recent State Senator, District 32 Special General Election and State Representative, District 39 Special Primary Election and Special General Election.

State Auditor finds financial mismanagement in City of Wynnewood forensic audit

State Auditor Cindy Byrd

AUDIT REVEALS FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT IN THE CITY OF WYNNEWOOD

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (January 30, 2024) - Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd today released her forensic audit report for the City of Wynnewood. This audit was requested by a citizen petition asking the State Auditor and Inspector’s Office (SA&I) to look into several areas of concern occurring between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2021.  

Among the findings of interest are a general lack of diligence regarding the commingling of sales tax money earmarked for specific purposes. A total of $696,731.92 from the Arbuckle Master Conservancy District was inappropriately transferred to the city’s utility bank accounts.

State Auditor Byrd finds $137k misappropriated by Payne County Sheriff's office employee

CINDY BYRD REPORTS ISSUES AT THE PAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (January 18, 2024) - Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd today released her forensic audit report for the Payne County Sheriff’s Office. The Payne County Board of County Commissioners requested the State Auditor & Inspector’s Office (SA&I) to investigate the financial activity of a Sheriff’s Office employee.

The audit report reveals that, between 2010 and 2022, Administrative Assistant Linda Farley was responsible for a total of $137,698.52 in misappropriated and questioned expenditures. Farley is accused of misappropriating $82,176.54 by using a Sheriff’s Office credit card and submitting altered and/or fabricated invoices for payment.

State Auditor releases audit of Talihina Schools, finds thousands in improper spending by superintendent

CINDY BYRD RELEASES TALIHINA SCHOOLS AUDIT

“Transparency, oversight, and accountability were disregarded.”

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (November 16, 2023) -- Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd today publicly released her audit of Talihina Public Schools. This investigative audit was requested by the citizens of the school district.

The primary findings of interest are the credit card expenditures of the school superintendent. Superintendent Jason Lockhart failed to provide receipts for more than $11,000 worth of purchases. 

House Speaker McCall reacts to audit finding $30M in questionable state spending

This is a week old, but I thought this statement from House Speaker Charles McCall regarding State Auditor Cindy Byrd's recent audit finding $30,000,000 in questionable pandemic-related grant spending deserved getting posted:

McCall Reacts to Audit Findings

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 27th) – Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, today released the following statement after State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd released the Federal Single Audit of expenditures made during SFY 2021 which includes pandemic funds. This annual audit is a federally-mandated examination of how the State of Oklahoma spends federal grant money and whether the State complied with federal regulations. 

“After a cursory review of Auditor Byrd’s report, I find her conclusions to be extremely troubling for our state and the hardworking taxpayers of Oklahoma.

State Auditor Byrd after finding $30M in questionable spending: "State of Oklahoma dropped the ball on compliance and oversight"

Ouch. This audit is pretty bad. State Auditor Cindy Byrd has released an audit of federally-funded grants (mainly COVID relief/stimulus money), finding about $30,000,000 in "questioned costs". This audit is federally-mandated, and could end up with the State of Oklahoma having to repay the misspent funds.

It pretty much comes down to an atmosphere of lackadaisical oversight, careless implementation, and seemingly outright intentions to flout spending rules. A proto-school choice program pushed by Gov. Stitt and then-Secretary of Education (now State Superintendent) Ryan Walters draws specific attention in the scathing report.

Here are some additional news articles to read on the audit:

• ‘Systemic issue’: Audit finds Oklahoma lacked oversight of pandemic relief funds [NonDoc]
• Audit finds special interest groups gave Oklahoma private schools first-dibs on federal relief money while rejecting poor kids [The Frontier]
• Auditor: Oklahoma Spent Millions of Federal Dollars Incorrectly [OklahomaWatch]

Byrd's press release is below:

STATE AUDITOR BYRD RELEASES FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT

“The State of Oklahoma dropped the ball on compliance and oversight.”

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (June 27, 2023) Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector (SAI) Cindy Byrd released today the Federal Single Audit of expenditures made during SFY 2021 which includes pandemic funds. This annual audit is a federally-mandated examination of how the State of Oklahoma spends federal grant money and whether the State complied with federal regulations.

AG Drummond asks State Auditor to perform investigative audit of Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

This should make Gary Richardson happy.

Or, as I saw someone else say, the first step to Making Turnpikes Free Again?

Drummond requests investigative audit of Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 15, 2023) – Amid swirling allegations involving the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA), Attorney General Gentner Drummond today requested that state Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd conduct an investigative audit of the agency.

Election Board: Libertarians draw top listing for November ballot, first post-election audit completed

Here's some news from the Oklahoma State Election Board:

State Election Board schedules post-election audits in 33 counties

Post-Election Audits Scheduled

(Oklahoma City -- July 26th) Post-election audits authorized by 26 O.S. § 3-130 will be conducted on Thursday, July 28.

County election board secretaries in thirty-three (33) counties will conduct a manual audit of ballots pursuant to the procedures established by the Secretary of the State Election Board. Thirty-six (36) different races are included in the audit. Audits are open to the public. Start times vary from county to county, but will begin between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Please contact your County Election Board for more details.

State law defines post-election audits as a "manual or electronic examination of a limited number of ballots” “for the purpose of maintaining the security of the election system by ensuring that voting devices and software used in a particular election correctly tabulated votes." Audit results cannot be used to change or alter certified election results.

An audit report will be posted on the State Election Board website following the audit.

Information, including a list of counties, ballot types, and races being audited, can be found on the State Election Board website.

Epic's epically bad day: OSBI arrests founders, former CFO on felony charges

OSBI ARRESTS EPIC CHARTER SCHOOL FOUNDERS, FORMER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 23, 2022) – Today, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is announcing the arrest of Epic Charter Schools founders Ben Harris and David Chaney, and former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Josh Brock. They were taken into custody at approximately 10 a.m. and were transported to the Oklahoma County Detention Center for booking. Harris, Chaney and Brock are facing the following charges:

• Racketeering

• Embezzlement of State Funds

• Obtaining Money by False Pretense

• Conspiracy to Commit a Felony

• Violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act

• Submitting False Documents to the State

• Unlawful Proceeds

OSDE investigation of Epic Charter Schools reveals major issues; Hofmeister to recommend probationary status

OSDE investigation of Epic reveals flawed attendance data, poor transparency, millions in misallotted public funds

Hofmeister will recommend probationary status for school

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 21, 2022) – An extensive investigation into Epic Charter Schools by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) has uncovered significant problems, including dubious attendance data that may have resulted in $780,000 in improperly obtained state funds and the improper disbursal of more than $8.5 million in bonuses to school administrators. The investigation was prompted by a complaint made against Epic in December 2021 by a former member of Epic’s governing board, Community Strategies Inc.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said she will recommend in the coming weeks that the State Board of Education place the virtual charter on probation and require it to undergo comprehensive corrective action. Findings in the OSDE report will also be shared with law enforcement to determine if further action is warranted.

State Sen. Boren requests audit of Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

Boren requests audit of Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Mary Boren has authored and filed Senate Concurrent Resolution 28 directing the State Auditor to audit the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA). This comes after recent news reports that the OTA is moving forward with plans to begin work on a controversial toll road expansion, including purchasing properties, after learning a $200 million line of credit cannot be used for the project because of pending lawsuits.

Legislature passes bill strengthening audit process for cities

Bill Updating Audit Process for Cities Sent to Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 11th) – Legislation reforming the financial audit process for Oklahoma municipalities has received its final stamp of approval from the Oklahoma House of Representatives and has been sent to the governor's desk.

House Bill 1058, authored by Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, modifies the audit requirement for municipalities with an income of at least $50,000 and a population of less than 2,500.