State may need installment plan to pay for lake
As we reported
yesterday, the state of Oklahoma has been ordered to pay the federal government $60 million dollars for a mid 1970's water project. The state admits owing the money, but claimed the debt has not been paid due to the legislature not appropriating the money. Payments to the federal government stopped in 1997 -
while Democrats were in control of both chambers. These are the folks who know best what to do with the nearly one billion dollar surplus?
TULSA, Okla. (AP) (excerpt) State Treasurer Scott Meacham says the state may have to set up an installment plan to pay the federal government for building Sardis Lake in southeastern Oklahoma.
The lake was built in 1974 to provide water for the state to sell to cities and industries and Oklahoma agreed to pay for the construction over 50 years plus pay operating costs.
A spokesman for Attorney General Drew Edmondson says state lawyers are still deciding whether to appeal to the U-S Supreme Court.
Posted at 6/14/2006 09:02:00 AM
