The Oklahoma Centennial Commission received an early Christmas gift Wednesday when Gov. Brad Henry and legislative leaders announced plans to set aside $17 million for projects observing Oklahoma's 100th birthday in 2007.
Blake Wade, executive director of the commission, said the money will pay for 320 centennial observances across the state, from the larger-than-life bronze Land Run Monument in Oklahoma City to the placement of centennial clocks and benches in smaller communities.
"We want to recognize all Oklahomans and all Oklahoma communities," Wade said.
Supplemental funding for centennial projects has been bottled up as lawmakers bickered over the need for a special session to approve it.
Centennial funding was among issues included by Gov. Brad Henry in an expanded special session call made shortly after lawmakers adjourned their regular session in May. The House passed a $10.9 million bill to pay for centennial projects but it was not heard in the Senate before adjournment.
The special session, which initially focused on workers' compensation reform, also included hiring more guards for Oklahoma's understaffed prisons.
The Senate voted in August to give prisons an extra $11 million to hire more guards and increase their pay. But a $10 million funding bill for centennial projects was defeated.
House Speaker Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville, has declined to call the House back into session. Hiett said both issues can be addressed without a special session.
"I do not think that would be a wise use of the taxpayers dollars to have a special session on something that we can deal with in the regular session," Hiett said.
The agreement between Henry, Hiett and Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, gives the Centennial Commission $16 million in supplemental funds. The Department of Commerce will receive $1 million to secure contracts for the largest of the events during the yearlong observance.
Four million dollars will be set aside for projects in Oklahoma City, $4 million for projects in Tulsa and $8 million for projects elsewhere in the state.
The agreement still must be approved by lawmakers and signed by Henry. The Legislature convenes its regular session on Feb. 6. Oklahoma's centennial will occur on Nov. 16, 2007.
Henry said the agreement fulfills a state commitment to provide local communities with matching state dollars for their centennial projects.
"Oklahomans are proud of our unique heritage, and our state deserves a fitting celebration of our first 100 years," Morgan said.
Hiett said the Centennial Commission will have the authority to choose what project to fund, taking the decision out of the hands of politicians.
"It will avoid what I was concerned about becoming a feeding frenzy," he said.
