Taylor, councilors fight over budget cuts
Tulsa’s financial woes continue as Mayor Kathy Taylor and city councilors agreed on a budget that cuts more than $7 million from the general fund.
The new budget takes effect July 1.
Every Tulsan will have to pay higher utility rates in the next year to cover the spending in Taylor’s budget.
Under Taylor’s plan, 4,000 city employees will be forced to take eight unpaid days of leave. The budget cuts out 96 authorized job openings.
More cuts could come. The budget has an option to cut almost $3 million more if city revenue keeps dropping and expenditures keep rising.
Taylor’s budget then might lay off 18 city workers and eliminate scheduled police and fire academies.
Councilor Bill Martinson wanted to cut the budgets of the police and fire departments by $15.7 million, arguing that Tulsans are spending more on police and fire salaries but not getting any more policemen or firemen. In Taylor’s administration, she has authorized just enough police academies to handle normal attrition after she had promised to add 200 policemen in her campaign in 2006.
She is not running for re-election.
The police and fire chiefs said Martinson’s plan would force the layoffs of 149 policemen and 140 firefighters. Union contracts would mandate layoffs rather than salary cutbacks.
Martinson warned that Tulsa is facing a huge financial crisis. He presented figures that showed that the police and fire departments had grown faster than the rate of population.
Martinson and fellow councilors John Eagleton, Eric Gomez and Rick Westcott voted no on the budget, which ended in a 5-4 vote for passage. Westcott, a registered Republican, is considering a race for mayor.
Councilors Bill Christiansen and David Patrick voted for Taylor’s budget. Christiansen, a registered Republican, is strongly leaning toward a race for mayor. The operational budget was more than $570 million. Utility rates for every Tulsan will go up at least $30 in the next 12 months.
Councilor G.T. Bynum has announced he is running for re-election and will not throw his hat in the ring for mayor. He is a registered Republican.
Former city councilor Chris Medlock, who ran against ex-mayor Bill LaFortune in 2006, is considering a race for the GOP nomination for mayor.
Dewey Bartlett, Jr., the son of a famous Oklahoma politician, is considering running for mayor. Bartlett’s last race was an unsuccessful run against State Sen. Tom Adelson, a Democrat who may run for mayor.
Tulsa businessman Clay Clark, political activist David O’Connor and Kevin Boggs of East Tulsa have each announced they are seeking the GOP nomination.
Former State Sen. Jim Williamson, a Republican, has said he will not run for mayor. Sources say Williamson is considering a run for federal office in the future.
Former City Councilor Jim Mautino, a Republican, has announced he will run against Councilor Dennis Troyer, a Democrat from East Tulsa.
Former City Councilor Roscoe Turner, a Democrat, has announced that he will run for his old seat against Councilor David Patrick, a long-time Democrat who ran last time as an independent.
The filing dates are in July and the election is Nov. 3.