Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Regina Birchum
Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency
Capitol: (405) 724-7760
August 13, 2020
Legislative Oversight Committee Approves LOFT Inaugural Workplan
Members of the Legislative Oversight Committee today approved the workplan for
the newly created Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency. The plan maps
out a schedule for in-depth, data-driven evaluation of specific programs and
processes of state agencies to ensure Oklahoma taxpayer funds are used
efficiently and effectively.
“LOFT has the potential to examine state agencies both in fiscal and performance
reviews for the sole purpose to make sure taxpayer dollars are being efficiently
and effectively spent to serve the citizens of Oklahoma,” said Sen. Roger
Thompson, who serves as co-chair of the Oversight Committee. “I am looking
forward to the data produced by LOFT as we craft future budgets for Oklahoma.”
Co-Chair Rep. Kevin Wallace said, “Approving this workplan was a historic first
step toward state budgets based on better data, a deeper understanding of where
taxpayer dollars go, and what the taxpayers are getting in return for their
investment. I appreciate the hard work the LOFT staff has done to date and look
forward to the results they will bring legislators in the future.”
While review of all programs and expenditures
are within the scope of the agency, the office’s first work plan focuses on
gathering and analyzing operations and expenditures of some of the largest
agencies and programs to determine how well resources are being used to fulfil
the core missions of the entities. Approval from the Legislative Oversight
Committee now allows LOFT staff to begin the data gathering and analysis process
for rapid response evaluations and other priorities as identified by the
Committee. A copy of the LOFT workplan is available at
http://www.okloft.gov/Workplan.pdf
About LOFT
LOFT has statutory authority to examine and evaluate the finances and operations
of all departments, agencies and institutions of Oklahoma and all its political
subdivisions. LOFT’s mission is to assist the Oklahoma Legislature in making
informed, data-driven decisions that will serve the citizens of Oklahoma by
ensuring accountability in state government, efficient use of resources, and
effective programs and services.
Created in 2019, LOFT is overseen by a
14-member Legislative Oversight Committee, appointed by the Speaker of the House
and the Senate Pro Tempore.