Rural Economic Action Plan-is it working?
This article was written with the help of A.I. software*
Millions of dollars wasted. Or was it?
In 2012, critics claimed that the State was wasting money on small-town Oklahoma that should be spent in a better way:
….the program still falls short in providing communities what they really need to thrive: job creators.
So, the focus will be on small towns to prove that the money has been well-spent.
Your tax dollars at work
Senator Dave Rader (R) from Oklahoma has sponsored a new bill about finding out if your tax dollars are being spent wisely. SB 2008 presents a plan to check up on the Rural Economic Action Plan from 1996.
The new proposed bill says that any group who obtained money from the REAP funds needs to make a plan to see how well those projects are working.
Surveys or questions will be used to ask people about the projects.
By January 1, 2027, these groups have to give a report to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce about at least two projects, and they have to use money they got earlier to pay for making the plan and the report.