OCCY approves lean FY2026 budget after warnings of shrinking federal and partner funding

The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth on June 25 approved the agency'wide fiscal year 2026 budget after staff described a smaller overall funding picture and a set of spending controls the commission must adopt before July 1.

Commissioners voted to adopt the fiscal plan after Director Jacoby told the panel the agency faced about a 2% net funding reduction compared with the prior year because several revenue streams are declining even though state appropriations rose slightly. Jacoby said the commission's payroll consumes nearly all of state general appropriations and left little discretionary money for operations.

"We got just shy of 2% less than we did in the year before," Jacoby said, noting that federal Title IV‑E reimbursements, preschool development grant funding and some State Department of Health contributions are expected to shrink. "We're going to be conservative, and we're going to look at a lower amount again."

Why it matters: OCCY distributes program funds and administers contracts used by providers across the state; smaller reimbursements and partner…