OKLAHOMA CITY – House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement after reports that the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is unable to make payroll for Wednesday, May 7, 2025, and is $23M short for the remainder of this fiscal year.

“We knew that the financial situation over at ODMHSAS was troublesome, but this is another level that makes me even more concerned as we wrap up this session and work toward finalizing the state’s budget,” Leader Munson said. “This department offers critical services to Oklahomans and needs to be funded properly for the well-being of our state and its citizens. While the legislature and the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency continue to investigate this matter, it is important to remember that real Oklahomans’ tax dollars are at stake here. This is further reason we should not consider the Governor’s request for flat budgets for our agencies or an income tax cut for this year’s budget. It will only end up costing our state more when we know that we cannot afford it right now. We will see more critical services and agencies struggle with funding and be forced to cut or limit services Oklahomans rely on. We have to be responsible with taxpayer dollars if we want them to go toward meaningful, necessary resources for Oklahomans.”

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