A step backward; OCAST funding plan troublesome

LONG ago, the state's premier science and technology agency learned that what the Legislature gives, it can also take away.

The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology started the 1990s with a budget topping $15 million. But until this fiscal year, the agency's budget had never again reached that point and even fell to below $4 million at one time.

Gov. Brad Henry and lawmakers righted that wrong last session, setting aside $22.4 million for OCAST. The appropriation was recognition that the agency designed to create economic development was doing just that, in a big way. Projects and research funded through OCAST have attracted billions of dollars in private and federal investment, not to mention jobs.

The budget deal reached this week apparently takes $4 million from OCAST to help fund a proposed bioenergy center. The governor's spokesman said legislative leaders couched the $4 million as one-time money for OCAST that wasn't part of its budget base and maintained the agency will actually end up with about $2 million more in operating funds compared with the current year. OCAST officials dispute that the $4 million was one-time money, and the math - fuzzy as it always is as a session nears end - still shows an overall loss.

Either way, we must scratch our heads at the shortsightedness of state leaders who would take money away from a state agency with a proven track record of success. We're concerned that promising new programs or research will be stalled.

At the same time, the loss isn't so staggering that it can't be fixed next session. OCAST spokesman Steve Paris said the agency is disappointed but will do its best to make the most of whatever money it gets from the state. We've no doubt about that.

It took a long time for OCAST to achieve funding that reflected its accomplishments and potential. Eroding that progress would be a mistake.