State Buildings Management, Sales Plan Progresses

Effort to sell Oklahoma’s unused buildings, properties continues

By Michael McNutt

Oklahoma is closer to getting a handle on its inventory of buildings and properties in order to sell unused and underused properties and could soon have one panel instead of nearly 200 state agencies negotiating building leases and managing building needs.

It’s all part of a plan by House Speaker T.W. Shannon for Oklahoma, the single largest owner of buildings, land and leases in the state, to sell its unneeded property and underused buildings. Proceeds would be used to pay for maintenance costs of other state buildings, including repairs to the state Capitol.

Eventually, an eight-year plan — similar to the long-range plans used by the state Transportation Department for road and bridge projects — would be developed to manage the state’s buildings and properties. Right now, 163 state agencies handle their own building needs.

“It’s time Oklahoma become better stewards of our state assets and the taxpayer’s money,” said Shannon, R-Lawton.

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