Hutchison Leaving Finance Chief Post

By Michael McNutt/Capitol Bureau, The Oklahoman ~ Oklahoma's chief financial officer is taking a position with the state's higher education system, it was announced Thursday.

State Finance Director Tony Hutchison, who worked closely in developing the state budget, has accepted a position as associate vice chancellor for strategic planning and analysis with the state Regents for Higher Education. He begins his new duties July 7.

Gov. Brad Henry will appoint a successor. "I appreciate Tony's service and I hate to lose him, but I understand this is a great opportunity and certainly wish him well,” the governor said.

Hutchison has worked about 25 years in the state Capitol, including serving as the state Senate's director of operations and planning and the director of economic research and policy analysis.

He also has held senior level positions with the Council of Governors' Policy Advisors in Washington and the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.

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Henry's Spokesman Denies Auditor Search

By The Oklahoman's Tony Thornton on www.newsok.com ~ Governor Brad Henry's office is taking issue with a higher education official's statement concerning a potential vacancy in the state auditor's job.

Paul Sund, Henry's communications director, said no one representing Henry contacted Greg Sawyer about possibly filling state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan's position.

A federal grand jury indicted McMahan and his wife Friday, accusing them of taking bribes from southeast Oklahoma businessman Steve Phipps in return for favorable treatment.

The indictment prompted some legislators to call for McMahan's resignation. Henry said McMahan should step aside during the criminal proceedings.

Sawyer, an associate vice chancellor for higher education, told The Oklahoman Friday he was approached weeks or months ago about replacing McMahan if the job came open. On Friday, he wouldn't name who contacted him, saying only it was someone representing the governor.

"We have contacted no one about the auditor's job, and anyone who suggests otherwise is not telling the truth," Sund wrote in an e-mail Saturday night.

"We are quite disappointed that someone would distort the facts and say that we contacted him about taking over the auditor's post when that never happened," Sund said.

Sawyer said Sunday the person who contacted him months ago about the potential opening was Tony Hutchison, Henry’s state finance director.

Sawyer said Hutchison told him, “If you’re interested, you need to let somebody know.”
Sawyer said he then spoke twice to Gerald Adams, Henry’s chief of staff.

“I don’t want to get in a debate with Paul Sund or anybody. ... I understand they don’t want to make it look like they’re pushing Jeff out,” Sawyer said.

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State Eyes $32.1 Million More In Next Fiscal Year

Oklahoma will have about $32.1 million more tax dollars to spend in the next fiscal year, the Office of State Finance reports.

The increase, which produces a total budget of about $7.1 billion, represents "very modest growth" in the state's budget, said Tony Hutchison, director of the Office of State Finance. The sum compares to an increase of about $100 million a year ago.

The State Board of Equalization is expected to certify the figures at a meeting next week.

"The state's economy is continuing to do well," Hutchison said. "It's moderating from prior years. It's not as hot as it had been."

He added that Oklahoma's budget mirrors trends seen in other states:"The one thing Oklahoma has going for it is our strong energy sector, and that's continuing to keep us above the national average," he added.

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