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WEBVTT rtCUTS ARE GOING.ABIGAIL: WE ARE LIVE AT THEOKLAHOMA STATE HEALTHDEPARTMENT, TrtHIS IS WHEREEMPLOYEES WHO MAKE $35,000 ORMORE, THEY WILL EXPERIENCE THOSEFURLOUGHS.THEY WERE JUST ANNOUNCED ANDTHEY COULD LIGHT -- LAST FORQUITE SOME TIME.>>rt FURLOUGH ONE DAY PER PAYPERIOD, TWO WEEKS.rtABIGAIL: IT COULD GET WORSE.THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID ITCOULD LAST TILL JUNE OF NEXTYEAR.>> WE HOPE I'M -- WE'RE NOTrtFORCED TO DO THAT BUT WE AREPREPARED TO TAKE WHATEVERMEASURES WE CAN TO MEET THEBUDGET SHORTFALL.ABIGAIL: $10 MILLION TO FILL THErtVOID.WORKERS WHO MAKE $35,000 OR MOREWILL HAVE TO TAKE DAYS OFFUNPAID.>> I AM AFFECTED BY THIS ASWELL.I WILL BErt FURLOUGHED AND MANYPEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT THATLIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.>> HE SAYS A LOT OF THEIREMPLOYEES ARE NOT WORKINGrt FORTHE MONEY.>> THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE.A LOT OF PEOPLE DO THIS BECAUSETHEY ARE PASSIONATE.WE ARE RESPONSIBLErt FORPROTECTING THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE.rtABIGAIL: FOUR PERSON WHO MAKES$35,000 EACH YEAR HOW THEFURLOUGH WILL AFFECT THEM, THEYWORK FOR FEWER DAYS A YEAR, JUSTrtTHE END OF THE YEAR, THEY WILLLOSE OUT ON 538 DOLLARS BY THEEND OF THIS YEAR.THIS CAN GO ON FOR QUITE SOMETIME PAST THAT.THAT IS LESS MONEY FrtOR CHRISTMASGIFTS, GROCERIES, OR CHURCHDONATIONS.

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Officials with the Oklahoma State Department of Health announced Wednesday a series of budget-cutting measures, including a furlough plan, due to the budget shortfall. Due to an estimated budget shortfall of more than $10 million, officials with the health department announced a series of actions to reduce spending. They said the agency is experiencing continued revenue shortfalls due to loss of federal funds, increased costs of providing services and reductions in annual state appropriation.“Since federal funds are nearly 60 percent of the OSDH budget, reductions in federal funds at the same time we are experiencing state budget shortfalls make for a perfect storm,” said Julie Cox-Kain, OSDH Senior Deputy Commissioner.“We are grateful to the Legislature and Governor for trying to minimize budget cuts to the department. Between SFY 2017 and 2018 the OSDH only received a 2.8 percent reduction in state funds.” said Cox-Kain. “However, the cumulative annual reduction in state appropriation to the OSDH since 2009 is 29.24 percent.”Starting with the October 30, 2017 pay period, OSDH personnel will be furloughed one day without pay during the two week cycle, officials announced. No employee making $35,000 per year or less will be affected, but all other personnel will be subject to the furlough. The October 30 effective date is required by law to provide staff with a 30-day notice. The furlough is a short term measure until long term budget reduction can be enacted and has been approved through June 30, 2018. In addition, a Voluntary Out Benefit Offer is being prepared to reduce staffing levels statewide. The plan is not yet finalized but will be announced to employees in the coming weeks. The current budget reductions taken by OSDH are independent of any additional budget cuts for SFY ’18 that may occur as a result of legislative action during the special session, officials said.