A clever idea saves ODOC and Oklahoma taxpayers a sack full of money

Boley, OK  The Oklahoma Department of Corrections will ask lawmakers for $688,094,618 for fiscal year 2019. 

In order to be good stewards of taxpayer money, ODOC is always looking for cost-saving strategies. 

Stephanie Lyon is an Administrative Assistant for the Agri-Services Division. She came up with an idea to utilize a empty warehouse at John H. Lilley Correctional Center.  Lyon said, "I took it as a challenge and got everything ready down here in the warehouse and have been ordering every since."  

This is the agency's bean and pasta storage facility.  Lyon discovered, by ordering semi truck loads of dry goods, it could save the agency a lot of money!

Ordering in bulk and distributing to the other prisons trimmed $86,522.69 off the ODOC food budget in 2018. Lyon said, "Pasta, $5 savings per box.  Beans, $8 to 13.50 dollars a bag depending on what we get."  

It's just one simple approach that really stacks up as the Legislative session begins and lawmakers make tough budget decisions.