New Oklahoma Workforce Commission director outlines $1.8M budget request, data plan and staffing needs

Kyla Gallietti, the first employee leading Oklahoma’s newly formed Workforce Commission, told a legislative subcommittee that the agency is requesting $1.8 million for fiscal year 2026 to stand up operations, build a statewide data system and fund workforce grants.

Gallietti said the commission’s purpose is to "be the referee on the field" for workforce activities across the state, reduce duplication of services and provide a transparent dashboard showing investments and outcomes. "One of the biggest issues in workforce is that everyone does workforce, and no one really owns that," she said.

The requested $1.8 million includes an $800,000 increase for FY‑26, Gallietti said. She described the commission as a lean team—"less than 5 folks"—and said staff and administration are not intended to create a large bureaucracy. About 25% of the $1.8 million, roughly $585,000, is currently targeted for salaries, Gallietti said, but the commissioners had not yet approved pay packages.

Gallietti said the commission will centralize data that currently sits in multiple systems and procure a consolidated platform to allow analysis and real‑time tracking. "We are going to RFP and RFQ out that within the next month so that we can get some quotes and know exactly what that's gonna cost," she said, while also noting the long‑term maintenance costs for such a system are "the real unknown." Any unspent administrative funds will go directly to workforce grants and initiatives, she added.

Senators pressed for clarity on funding sources and what has already been appropriated. Senator Yuck noted a spreadsheet showing an ARPA line of $636,000; Gallietti said the FY‑25 appropriation included $1 million plus $636,000 from ARPA, but the FY‑26 request is $1.8 million with an $800,000 increase. She also said the commission was given about $6 million in other funds for proof‑of‑concept projects.

Senator Krellner asked whether the million dollars allocated last year had been spent; Gallietti said it had not. "I am the first employee of this new agency, and I started 2 weeks ago," she said, adding that consultants had supported the commissioners' work to stand up the agency.

Committee members asked Gallietti to provide a more detailed breakdown that distinguishes one‑time setup costs (such as initial data platform procurement) from recurring costs (maintenance, salaries, recurring grants). "If we've got an updated spreadsheet that we're gonna have, it might be good to break that out and show that data is recurring," said a senator. Gallietti agreed to supply an updated BPR and to share information as the RFP process yields cost estimates.

Members also discussed administrative logistics the new agency has faced while standing up operations with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), including delays in employee onboarding, email issuance, rent‑rate determinations for office space and other start‑up items. Gallietti asked for expedited support from OMES on those items.

Gallietti outlined program priorities and potential rapid‑response uses of grants, including short‑term credentialing, initiatives for incarcerated women to enter health care positions and other pilots to address transportation and childcare barriers to employment. She cited prior experience landing large grants, saying she helped secure a Good Jobs Challenge grant and other awards in past roles.

The chair said the committee will receive the updated BPR and asked the commission to provide the requested detail to help justify the budget at full appropriations. Gallietti thanked members and said she would follow up with more detailed budget information and RFP timelines.

The subcommittee did not take a formal vote on the request during the hearing.