Audit first, tax hikes later

Regarding the Tom Coburn and Burns Hargis op-eds on the Step Up Oklahoma plan (Points of View, Jan. 28): Coburn has many valid concerns detailing many millions in wasteful spending or lost saving opportunities. I trust Coburn’s views and figures. Hargis points out Oklahoma is upsidedown in rankings for critical areas, such as education, health care, female incarceration. He appears confident Oklahoma has a revenue problem and must increase taxes to solve Oklahoma’s issues. Dave Osborn (Your Views, Jan. 28) notes Oklahoma has too many school districts for its 77 counties. Consolidating school districts, or at least, centralizing school administrations, information technology and other support functions should occur.

It is unknown whether Oklahoma has a revenue problem. Independent operational and efficiency audits should be undertaken at every state agency to ensure appropriate administrative organization and efficient functioning. It appears there is significant wasteful spending or unrealized savings opportunities available. Raising taxes to throw more money at inefficient government is not the solution.

Opportunities abound for administrative restructuring and overall reorganization throughout Oklahoma state agencies. Assurance provided by independent operational audits, and positive actions taken on the resulting findings, may comfort taxpayers. Then, if a revenue problem exists, consider tax increases.

Steve Whitworth, Stillwater