IEC Disapproves Inclusion of Access Road Program, Finalizes Report Content

iec

Oklahoma’s Incentive Evaluation Commission met on Tuesday afternoon to take action on the 2016 Industrial Access Road Program and finalize the advisory group’s report.

During the November 23 meeting, Deby Snodgrass, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Commerce, asked for the removal of the Industrial Access Road Program from the 2016 incentives list. Snodgrass explained that the program arose through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation administrative rules rather than statute. Snodgrass said the program involved only public roads which are currently maintained through the ODOT budget.

Snodgrass was absent from Tuesday’s meeting but her rationale resonated with the voting Commission members.

Randall Bauer with the consultant vendor, Public Financial Management, indicated the program was included in the list of incentives since it operates similarly to a grant.

“It appears to me that this is clearly under the Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction,” said Commissioner Ron Brown. “In my opinion, it’s not an incentive.”

No federal funds are involved yet ODOT receives its agency appropriation from the general revenue fund and budgets for this program accordingly.

Ultimately, the Commission unanimously voted to disapprove PFM’s evaluation of the program on this basis.

The Commissioners also unanimously agreed that the group will finalize a letter detailing the evaluation process, the group’s interpretation and the process that was followed to approve or disapprove the incentive along with additional guidance commentary.

The IEC must provide their final recommendations to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 15.

The commission will set another meeting in the near future to work through the group’s rulemaking process, which has a mid-January deadline.