County Budget Increase 17%

[Kiah]

So, the County is increasing its operating budget by nearly 17%, and hiring a redundant chief deputy (how many "chief" deputies can there be, by the way?) -- and County Commissioners had the gall to say during the annexation debate that the City of Tulsa, whose operating budget is only increasing by less than 1%, needs to be more fiscally conservative?

County budget OK'd; chief deputy hired for Miller

By KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff Writer
6/12/2007


The Tulsa County general fund budget for the year beginning July 1 was approved Monday, including funds to hire former mayoral candidate Terry Simonson as the chief deputy for County Commission Chairwoman Randi Miller.

The $61,907,082 budget was approved by the budget board 7-1.

The dissenting vote coming from County Commissioner John Smaligo, who said after the meeting that he has no qualms about Simonson's qualifications but questioned the hiring process.

"It was my opinion that we needed a little bit more discussion and study of whether or not to increase the number of employees" for the County Commission, he said.

Miller said during the meeting that she had been advised by the District Attorney's Office that she was required by state law to hire a chief deputy.

Simonson's salary will not increase the county budget, Miller said. Instead, the county will use funds allocated for positions that ultimately were never filled.

Simonson, 56, has been active in local government for years. He was chief of staff and chief administrative officer under former Mayor Dick Crawford.

He has run unsuccessfully for four elected offices: twice for mayor, in 2002 and 1998; for city auditor in 1988; and for county clerk in 1984.

In addition, he served six years as chairman of the Tulsa County Republican Party.

In 2005, Simonson said U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe tried to broker a deal that would have made Simonson the chief administrative officer for then-Mayor Bill LaFortune.

The deal fell through.

He is now the chairman of the county's Performance Audit Team, appointed this year to look into ways to make county government more efficient.

He will continue to hold that post.

For years, the county commissioners have shared one chief deputy, Paul Wilkening. Simonson and Wilkening will be paid the same annual salary: $87,648.72.

Simonson, an attorney, said he is glad to be working at the county level.

"In my view, county government is the government of the future," he said.

Jim Smith, the county's financial officer, said the roughly $9 million increase in expenditures from last year is a result of three factors: a 7 percent pay increase given to county employees earlier this year; a small increase in health-care premiums; and an increase in the county's contribution to the county employees' retirement fund.

Last year, the county's general fund budget was $53,080,335.

[NellieBly]

Why should the county be fiscally conservative when they have more money than god? The city handed over its bank account to the county when Vision 2025 was passed.

[TURobY]

Annual salary: $87,648.72.

Sign me up for this position...

[TulsaSooner]

So, County government is the "government of the future" but he tried for City positions four times?

I wonder at what point he came to this conclusion?

[RecycleMichael]

Terry Simonson is a smart hire for County Commissioner Randi Miller. He is a smart guy who knows the traps and bridges of local government and can be an invaluable assistant for her next election (the other commissioners just got elected for four year terms but she has a election in 2008).

I think the other chief deputy for the county, Paul Wilkening does a good job. He keeps the county out of trouble and serves as their stand-in on many important roles. It will be interesting to see how his role changes for comissioner Miller.

[cannon_fodder]

Don't you guys know that government spending is the solution to all of our problems?  Clearly we just haven't given them enough money yet.