Gov. Mary Fallin shakes the hand of House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, in May. Fallin said she wants legislative leaders to come together for a special session to fill a $215 million shortfall in several agencies' budgets. [Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman Archives]

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin on Wednesday said she wants a special session to fill a $215 million shortfall in several agencies' budgets, but she now must wait for lawmakers to strike a deal.

Four agencies lost that expected cash after the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down a cigarette "fee" this month, the Departments of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Human Services, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the commission that enforces alcohol and tobacco laws. Without reappropriation, the agencies will have to restructure their budgets.

"A special session is the best option," Fallin said. "Failure to meet in special session would mean $215 million would be cut mostly from these three state agencies. These agencies and the people they serve cannot sustain the kind of cuts that will occur if we do not find a solution."

Fallin also warned lawmakers that the executive branch can't make up the money with existing state funds.