Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin draws criticism from oil and gas trade group for raising production taxes in an effort to close a gap in the state budget. Pool Photo by Aude Guerrucci /UPI June 1 (UPI) — The budget for fiscal year 2018 in shale-rich Oklahoma sends about $7 billion to state agencies, but remains off $37 million from this year, the governor said. Gov. Mary Fallin signed off on a new budget that her office said closes an $878 million gap while keeping social services like hospitals and nursing homes running. The 2018 budget is $37.7 million, or about a half percent, lower than the appropriated budget for this year. In a nod to a weakened energy market, where crude oil prices are still about half what they were three years ago, the governor said a 3 percent increase in gross production tax would help keep the state […]