OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Tax Commission is hiring new auditors and hiking their pay in an effort to improve compliance with tax codes and increase state revenue.
 
The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/2ejiDPg ) reports that the commission hopes to bring in more than $50 million in new revenue by tightening enforcement. The plan comes as state government continues to suffer from budget challenges.
 
The commission has hired 20 new auditors so far and is seeking 33 more. Commission spokeswoman Paula Ross says starting salaries have risen from about $2,200 a month to about $2,700.
 
A bill approved this year ordered the commission to find and decrease fraud, increase its audit staff to catch people failing to file their taxes or underreporting what they owe, and ensure proper reporting and collection of gross production taxes.