The lack of state funds was the principal concern for around 50 people Friday.
Area school officials, city workers and concerned citizens were on hand for the monthly legislative forum held by the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce.
legislative forumState representatives Jerry Shoemake and Steve Kouplen and Senator Roger Thompson told the group that work has started trying to figure out where cuts will be made to meet a projected $1.3 billion revenue shortfall.
One of the issues addressed were tax incentives that, according to Kouplen, amounts to over $100 million. "I understood the plan was to bring in companies to to the state. It was an incentive to come in and create new jobs then, after a period of time, would go away," he said.
Producing a several pages-long list of businesses, Kouplen said some of those incentives included established companies like Coca Cola. "Oil and gas production taxes brought in $24 million," he said. "After the incentives, the state got $441,000. We need to look at the ones that are needed and get rid of the others we don't."
Sen. Thompson said he favors a rollback in the tax cuts. "Those were enacted in the 2014 legislature with triggers to kick in. Those triggers were faulty." He pointed out he also favors a close eye on the tax credits. "If we don't reduce those, every agency including schools will take a 20 percent cut."
"We are looking at a two and a half to three percent revenue failure in March," Shoemake said. "We don't want to cut any money out of education. If we do not do some reforms, every other agency will take a 20 to 25 percent hit. They can't take it."

See the full video of the meeting here.