Introduction

The State of Oklahoma at the State-level has approximately $7.78 billion of the taxpayer's money it is not using, i. e. surpluses equal to $2,226 for every man, woman and child in Oklahoma or $8,903 for a family of 4. This does not include all the additional surpluses that exist in the school districts, cities, or counties in Oklahoma.

The Exhibit A below shows the results of the FY 2003 review.

What are these surpluses we refer to?

Government surpluses, as used in this report, are funds that are not required or needed for the operation of all government operations, funds, accounts, agencies, etc., directly or indirectly, for the year(s) covered by the budget which is usually one year. Theoretically, at the end of every fiscal year, governments should have little or no cash/investments on hand. But what we have found is that most governments have huge amounts of cash and investments on hand at the end of the fiscal year. And somehow these cash and investments are not being recycled back through the budget process the next year, but are being held year-after-year.

A Government Can Have a Budget Deficits/Shortfalls and Financial Surpluses At The Same Time.

This is the most deceiving topic that governments, politicians, and the news media have conveyed to the public about governmental financial matters. In realty, a government can simultaneously have a budget shortfall and a financial surplus of the taxpayers' money.

The problems are focused in four areas:

1. The budget only covers a small portion of the State's financial condition. There are a group of funds not part of the budget process. The complete list of funds and budgetary requirements are found in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). This report depicts the complete financial status of the State. The budget only covers a portion of the financial resources of the government.

A Little Background:

The CAFR usually has four categories.

Governmental Funds
Proprietary Funds
Fiduciary Funds
Component Units

Governmental Funds involve activities of the government including most basic services such as environmental resources, general government, transportation, education, health and human services, and protection of persons and property. Most of the cost of these activities are financed by taxes, fees , and federal grants.

Proprietary Funds are used when a government charges customers for the services it provides, whether to outside customers or to other agencies with the state. For example, Enterprise Funds, a component of proprietary funds, are for activities that provide goods and services to outside (non-government) customers, which includes the general public. Fees, charges for services or goods, assessments, fines, licenses, etc. are the major revenue sources.

Fiduciary Funds are activities in which the state acts as a trustee or fiduciary to hold resources for the benefit of others. These funds are pension trust funds, investment trusts, and agency funds (which are for assets held for distribution by the government as an agent for other governmental units, other organizations, or individuals).

Component Units reportedly are legally separated organizations for which the government is financially accountable. Usually fees, charges for services or goods, assessments, fines, penalties, licenses, etc. are the major revenue source.

The budget, as commonly known to the public, only involves the Governmental Funds and may not even include all of the governmental-type funds. The remainder of the Funds shown above are not part of the budget and are commonly called "off-budget" items.

For example, the Component Units surpluses, amount to 49% of the total surpluses. These are not part of the State budget and the budget of the Component Units obviously are not prepared with efficient money management or economics in mind.

2. Next year's budget consists only of next year's estimated revenues and next year's estimated expenditures. Previous years' revenues not used (spent) are normally not considered in the next year's budget, but should be. In other words, the previous years' revenues (as shown in the CAFR) are not recycled back to the budget process.

Historically, a budget consists of three parts: 1) Funds brought forward (funds not previously spent); 2) Next year's estimated revenues; and 3) Next year's estimated expenditures.

The State of Oklahoma in the General Fund does consider the previous year's balance in the budget process.

In most States the funds brought forward category is lost. In accounting, the previous years' revenues are no longer called revenue but have been converted to Cash and Investments. Since they no longer called Revenues governments have forgotten about them to the public. They are there but not considered in the budget process, but should be.

3. The budgeted items and non-budgeted items (off budget) should be budgeted to zero (usually referred to as zero-based budgeting). In addition, the government should be on a pay-as-you-go basis, no reserves for future years. What this means is that you budget to have a zero fund balance. If you plan to spend $100 you budget for $100 with no excess or reserve allowed.

However, the FY 2003 CAFR does state:

"Also, the legislature adopted new zero or performance based budgeting measures to help increase efficiency and effectiveness."

Yes! I have been advocating this for all governments for two years. It is in my CAFR Budget System (CBS). I salute the State legislators of Oklahoma. This is a good start.

But there are ways that they have used to circumvent the zero-based budgeting. For examples:

The CAFR states:

"Cash-Flow Reserve Fund - Each year, 10% of the General Revenue Fund's certified appropriation level is set aside to meet anticipated monthly cash flow needs for the new fiscal year."

This results in a reserve that is not needed. In my Instant Funding System (IFS), it is shown that holding reserves for potential cash flow problems is unnecessary and costly for the taxpayer.

Another example. The CAFR states:

"Constitutional Reverse 'Rainy Day Fund' - At the start of each fiscal year, collections that exceed the estimate for the preceding year are automatically deposited in the Rainy Day Fund until the total balance equals 10% of the prior year's certified appropriation authority for the General Revenue Fund."

This is just another way of collecting reserves/surpluses that are not necessary and costly for the taxpayer.

4. Budgeted expenditures should be last year's expenditures (as shown in the CAFR) with an adjustment for increase in requirements (costed out) or reductions in requirements. In most cases the CAFR expenditures are not considered in the next year's budget because the CAFR in many cases is published after next year's budget is considered and sometimes approved.

Running Surpluses is Stealing

Although taxation is legitimate, running a government surplus isn't. It represents a taking by the state, because it exceeds the government's contract with the community. It is no different than if a federal agency were to take a person's land or possessions without just compensation (an activity barred by the Fifth Amendment). Excess taxation isn't what the people bargained for.

In presuming entitlement or authority not ceded by the community, the state abrogates its moral pact with those it governs. Its power is no longer derived from the people, whose rights to liberty and property it boldly denies.

"Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery" - Calvin Coolidge

The Governor and the Legislators

The Governor and the legislators should include in the next year's budget the previous years revenues not spent as indicated by the CAFR. These were once a revenue and should still be considered revenue for budgetary purposes.

Also, they should consider a zero-balance budget concept for all budget and non-budgetary items in the CAFR including the College and Universities and the Component Units.

Budgeted expenditures (for the budget) should be last year's expenditures (from the CAFR) adjusted for demonstrated requirement changes in project, program or services. An increase in requirements should include the costs of these additional requirements. Conversely, a decrease in requirements should result in a decrease in costs associated with the decreased requirements.

The Governor and legislators should take into consideration the entire financial condition/status of the State in the budgetary process by including all of the funds in the CAFR as being a part of the budget.

This system is covered in the CAFR Budget System. This system needs to be implemented in all governments.

If the State holds the excesses/surplus, it will earn 4% to 5% on that money. If the State returns the money to the people it will receive 20% in revenue because of the increased economic activity. This is elementary economics.

Laws need to be changed.

Every thing done by governments is by law. There are laws that state this or that regarding the use of some of the funds. Man made the laws, man can change the laws. How much effort would it be to include at the end of every law "...or if considered excess or not needed for the current operation that the funds will be refunded to the taxpayers?" See how easy it is.

At one time every law had its place, but things change. The laws need to be reviewed for change to meet the current needs of the government and the people to release these funds for use/refunded.

If this were accomplished, the State would have a huge surplus to refund (rebate or tax reductions) to the taxpayers. Such a refund would create considerable wealth and jobs, increase wages, increase State and local government revenues, dramatically increase the economy, and create the greatest economic expansion in the history of the State. Everyone wins.

If you want to know the financial condition of your government(s), do not look at the budget. Get the CAFR.

The Synergistic Magic of Economics.

What happens when the government holds the $7.78 billion.

Here is what happens when the $7.78 billion is returned to the taxpayers (the private economy).

In addition, 156,099 jobs are created. This is why it is disastrous for governments to hold excesses/reserves of the taxpayers money.

Note: The economic impact analysis is further explained at Economic Impact Analysis.

The business community suffers the most.

Before the 9-11 tragedy, President Bush and Congress provided tax rebates which averaged $427 for every American. This was to create an additional $60 billion in consumer (economic) spending, turn the economy around and create jobs for the unemployed. However, 9-11 change that.

As the above economic impact chart shows, if the State returned the $7.78 billion in surpluses to the people the State economy would grow by $4,468 per capita. That is 10 times the amount the Federal government used to stimulate the U.S. economy. Businesses net incomes could double or triple. This is elementary economics.

Examples

The Water Resources Board, a Proprietary Fund and not part of the budget, made a profit of $27 million. It also had reserves (cash and investments) of $159 million.

The CompSource Oklahoma, a Component Unit and not part of the budget, had net expenses of $10 million. It also had cash and investment reserves of $831 million. The reserves represent 81 years of net expenses.

Grand River Dam Authority, another Component Unit and not part of the budget, had net expenses of $1.1 million. It had reserves of $320 million. That represents 280 years of reserves of net expenses.

OK Municipal Power Authority, another Component Unit, made a profit of $763 thousand and had cash/investment reserves of $244 million.

These only represent four of the 27 funds shown below that had cash and investment reserves not being used.

What to do?

Unless the budget flaws are corrected and the entire State finances are used in the budget process, the problems that created the surpluses will continue to exist. The budget deficits reported by the Governor and legislatures will be used year after year for the excuses for tax increases and/or to reduce needed services.

Just stopping a tax increase or a reduction in services will not solve the problems. The problems will come back the next year.

I have provided the details of the surpluses and explained the ways the surpluses are accumulated. The data is accurate because it comes directly from the government's own financial statement, the CAFR. You must provide the where-with-all to convince the Governor and legislatures that the surpluses exist and what should be done about it. I live in Arizona. It is not my money that is at stake.

Exhibit A

The 2003 CAFR is located at:

http://www.osf.state.ok.us/comp-fr.html

Items not Included

The following items are not included in the amount of surplus shown:

-Buildings, roads, bridges, land (not for sale), and equipment.

-Deferred compensation plans for employees. These are plans in which the employee contributes to his/her retirement over and above the normal employee retirement contribution.

-Any fund that is 100% supported by donations, bequests, gifts, endowments, etc. These are not taxpayers money.

-For Colleges and Universities. All endowment and similar-type funds should not be included as surpluses. Sometimes these funds are combined with other college/university funds. We are interested in surpluses, so in these cases the total amount should not be included.

-Funds in which the revenues/contributions are 100% held for other individuals, organizations or another government.

-Funds that are required by law in which a bank, financial institution, insurance companies, etc. are required to deposit with the government a certain amount for insurance against the entity going bankrupt. These are not taxpayers' money.

-Retirement/Pension Funds - only included are 1/2 of the actuarially determined excesses, the taxpayers portion. The other 1/2 is the government employees portion.

  Review of The State of Oklahoma CAFR- FY 2003

CAFR Page	List of Investments By Fund (In thousands)	Surpluses	Notes
	Governmental Funds:
48	General	2,059,383
	Permanent Funds:
48	Commissioners of the Land Office	1,057,561
48	Department of Wildlife Lifetime Licenses	55,835
48	Tobacco Settlement Endowment	135,912
48	Capital Projects	5,135
	Proprietary:
52	Employment Security Commission	399,375
52	Water Resources Board	158,972
	Fiduciary Funds:
	Pension Funds: (1/2 actuarial requirements, 7/1/2003)
104	Wildlife Conservation Retirement Plan
	OK Firefighters Pension and Retirement System	Unknown
107	OK Law Enforcement Retirement System
	OK Public Employees Retirement System	Unknown
107	Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges	28,067
	OK Police Pension and Retirement System Provides	Unknown
	Teacher's Retirement System of Oklahoma	Unknown
56	Investment Trust Funds	4,724
	Agency Fund
122	Taxes Held For Outside Entities
122	Funds Held in Escrow	15,193
122	Assets Held for Beneficiaries
122	Other	12,633
	Component Units:
60	CompSource Oklahoma	830,673
60	State and Education Employment Group Insurance Bd.	162,654
60	OK Student Loan Authority	64,361
60	OK Housing Finance Agency	633,468
60	OK Transportation Authority	376,610
60	Grand River Dam Authority	319,801
60	OK Municipal Power Authority	244,004
60	Higher Education Component Unit	1,067,374	1
126	OK Educational Television Authority	3,618
126	OK Industrial Finance Authority	40,638
126	Health Insurance High Risk Pool	5,798
126	Multiple Injury Trust Fund	17,022
126	University Hospital Authority	68,398
126	OK Development Finance Authority	9,629
126	OK Capital Investment Board	17
126	OK Environmental Finance Authority	46
	Total Surpluses…	7,776,901
	Per Capita…	2,226
	Family of 4…	8,903
Note
1	Some of the potential surpluses may contain endowment funds. These are not considered potential surpluses and should be deducted from the total.

Note: For those familiar with governmental accounting, for surpluses we basically used GFOA Balance Sheet Account Classification Codes 101, 102, 103, 151, 153, and 170.

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This report was prepared by: Gerald R. Klatt Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired www.cafrman.com Qualifications Contact

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