City Furloughs

[Hoss]

Booker T is 1 school out of how many?  And what does the ** indicate?

One divided into something equals a positive percentage.

Now, tell me how much zero divided into anything is?

[DowntownNow]

Based on newly released Sales Tax revenues from the state, the City is looking at a need to reduce the budget by additional $7 million FY2009-2010. 

Posted on Tulsa World:

City faces growing budget hole

by: BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
5/12/2009 5:25:17 PM

Mayor Kathy Taylor informed city councilors and employees Tuesday that her $578 million proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year will have to be cut by about $7 million due to a continuing drop in sales tax revenues.

Of that amount, about $5 million will affect the general operating fund and $2 million will impact third-penny capital projects.

"We are absolutely going to look at everything in the city system to find savings," she said. "Unfortunately, there are not many actions that we can take that won't affect our employees and, ultimately, our service levels."

Taylor is recommending a number of measures to bridge the $5 million general operating fund gap, including slashing the pay of the few hundred city managers by 3.5 percent for a $526,000 savings.

That would be in addition to the four unpaid furlough days that are already included in the budget for all city employees that amount to a 1.5 percent pay cut, bringing the total salary impact to the managers to 5 percent.

Another suggestion the mayor made is charging EMSA $50 for every medical run that firefighters also respond to, bringing in $1.6 million.

Other recommended actions by Taylor include eliminating all employee parking subsidies for $400,000 and all Mayor's Office cell phone subsidies for $8,000 and cancelling the city's $75,000 annual membership to the Oklahoma Municipal League.

In all, the mayor made about $2.6 million worth of suggestions to councilors, saying "These don't get us all the way there, but I think they are a good start."

If additional unpaid furlough days are added to the four already in the budget, each day would bring in $625,000 for the general fund, Taylor said.

"It's certainly something we're going to have to take a serious look at given the financial situation we're in," she said.

Police, fire and labor and trades union officials have all said they plan to fight being part of the furlough days. Taylor said the negotiations on their contracts are ongoing but that the city has the authority to make all employee groups participate.

The impact to the ongoing third-penny program means that some projects could be delayed, officials said.

City finance officials realized the proposed budget would have to be revised after receiving Tulsa's May sales tax check, which was 8.1 percent down from the same month in 2008.

The $16.1 million check from the Oklahoma Tax Commission is about $1.4 million below the one in May 2008 and $2 million below budget projections, Finance Director Mike Kier said.

The money was collected between March 16 to April 15.

"This has caused us to re-examine whether we can justify and support our numbers in the proposed budget," Kier said.

When budget forecasting began in November, sales tax revenue was expected to be $234 million for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Since then, that forecast number has been continually revised and is now $208 million.

Councilor Bill Martinson said the free fall will eventually stop but the city needs to "plan for the worst and hope for the best."

"If we don't do that, what would end up happening is that we would have to make some dramatic adjustments on the fly," he said. "The result of that would be complete disaster from a service standpoint."

Councilor Bill Christiansen said the city has to focus on "needs and not wants."

Christiansen took issue with some of the roughly 60 supposedly critical city positions that have been filled since the mayor implemented a hiring freeze in February.

"Admittedly a lot of them are needed," he said. "I'll be the first to say that. But I do question some of them."

The council is working to review, make changes to and approve the budget before the July 1 start of the fiscal year.

[Conan71]

Come on DowntownNever, where's your side-swipe on Mayor Taylor?  Don't let us down!

[Wilbur]

Eliminate one new road project or overlay and you save all employees' furloughs.  Where's the priority?

[patric]

If the six-day furlough option takes effect, it could mean fewer firefighters on a truck, or fewer fire trucks altogether.

"Local 176 does not believe we can diminish public safety any further than we are.  We're already running three on a truck 85% of the time and the national standard is four on a truck," says fire union president Stan May.

The fire and police chiefs have agreed to work with the city.  For firefighters, that could mean making other concessions rather than the furloughs, to maintain adequate staffing levels.

Councilor Christiansen says cuts to police and fire should be a last resort.

"I think the number one priority for city of Tulsa should be public safety for the citizens of Tulsa."
http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/City-Budget-Needs-More-Cuts/9Ph5XaRNfUeU_UNGBRPzdw.cspx

While we debate the specifics of how to gut police, fire and EMSA, there is not one whisper about putting the fat sacred cow of wasteful streetlights on a diet.....

We could at least STOP installing new acorns, you know.
No one is suggesting plunging neighborhoods into darkness, just stop installing outrageously expensive novelty lights that do a piss poor job of lighting streets. 

How much money are we talking about, you say?
See page 9:
http://ww2.cityoftulsa.org/COTlegacy/documents/CityofTulsaEnergyConservationandEfficiencyPlan.pdf

[nathanm]

No one is suggesting plunging neighborhoods into darkness

I wish someone would seriously suggest this. Streetlights are mostly unnecessary. They should be installed where required, not on every corner as a matter of course.

Personally, I prefer walking in the parts of my neighborhood that don't leave me feeling like I've got a target painted on my back and a spotlight shining in my face blinding me.

[patric]

I wish someone would seriously suggest this. Streetlights are mostly unnecessary. They should be installed where required, not on every corner as a matter of course.

Personally, I prefer walking in the parts of my neighborhood that don't leave me feeling like I've got a target painted on my back and a spotlight shining in my face blinding me.

The furlough proposal is now up to eight ( days now, btw.
...and I do like some lit streets, too.  Warm, inviting streets that promote utilization by families or people just out for a walk, not prison-yard-like landscapes that scream "high-crime area" because someone at one point decided a streetlight isnt a streetlight unless it burns a minimum amount of electricity the city must buy.

[custosnox]

The furlough proposal is now up to eight ( days now, btw.
...and I do like some lit streets, too.  Warm, inviting streets that promote utilization by families or people just out for a walk, not prison-yard-like landscapes that scream "high-crime area" because someone at one point decided a streetlight isnt a streetlight unless it burns a minimum amount of electricity the city must buy.

If they city will buy me a bb gun and a couple of cases of bb's, and promise not to replace the bulbs, I can save us lots of money

[patric]

If they city will buy me a bb gun and a couple of cases of bb's, and promise not to replace the bulbs, I can save us lots of money

Not a good idea.  The ballasts still use electricity even when the bulb is out or broken.
But what a photo-op 

[Rico]

Based on newly released Sales Tax revenues from the state, the City is looking at a need to reduce the budget by additional $7 million FY2009-2010. 

Posted on Tulsa World:

City faces growing budget hole

by: BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
5/12/2009 5:25:17 PM

Mayor Kathy Taylor informed city councilors and employees Tuesday that her $578 million proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year will have to be cut by about $7 million due to a continuing drop in sales tax revenues.

Of that amount, about $5 million will affect the general operating fund and $2 million will impact third-penny capital projects.

"We are absolutely going to look at everything in the city system to find savings," she said. "Unfortunately, there are not many actions that we can take that won't affect our employees and, ultimately, our service levels."

Taylor is recommending a number of measures to bridge the $5 million general operating fund gap, including slashing the pay of the few hundred city managers by 3.5 percent for a $526,000 savings.

That would be in addition to the four unpaid furlough days that are already included in the budget for all city employees that amount to a 1.5 percent pay cut, bringing the total salary impact to the managers to 5 percent.

Another suggestion the mayor made is charging EMSA $50 for every medical run that firefighters also respond to, bringing in $1.6 million.

Other recommended actions by Taylor include eliminating all employee parking subsidies for $400,000 and all Mayor's Office cell phone subsidies for $8,000 and cancelling the city's $75,000 annual membership to the Oklahoma Municipal League.

In all, the mayor made about $2.6 million worth of suggestions to councilors, saying "These don't get us all the way there, but I think they are a good start."

If additional unpaid furlough days are added to the four already in the budget, each day would bring in $625,000 for the general fund, Taylor said.

"It's certainly something we're going to have to take a serious look at given the financial situation we're in," she said.

Police, fire and labor and trades union officials have all said they plan to fight being part of the furlough days. Taylor said the negotiations on their contracts are ongoing but that the city has the authority to make all employee groups participate.

The impact to the ongoing third-penny program means that some projects could be delayed, officials said.

City finance officials realized the proposed budget would have to be revised after receiving Tulsa's May sales tax check, which was 8.1 percent down from the same month in 2008.

The $16.1 million check from the Oklahoma Tax Commission is about $1.4 million below the one in May 2008 and $2 million below budget projections, Finance Director Mike Kier said.

The money was collected between March 16 to April 15.

"This has caused us to re-examine whether we can justify and support our numbers in the proposed budget," Kier said.

When budget forecasting began in November, sales tax revenue was expected to be $234 million for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Since then, that forecast number has been continually revised and is now $208 million.

Councilor Bill Martinson said the free fall will eventually stop but the city needs to "plan for the worst and hope for the best."

"If we don't do that, what would end up happening is that we would have to make some dramatic adjustments on the fly," he said. "The result of that would be complete disaster from a service standpoint."

Councilor Bill Christiansen said the city has to focus on "needs and not wants."

Christiansen took issue with some of the roughly 60 supposedly critical city positions that have been filled since the mayor implemented a hiring freeze in February.

"Admittedly a lot of them are needed," he said. "I'll be the first to say that. But I do question some of them."

The council is working to review, make changes to and approve the budget before the July 1 start of the fiscal year.

Still not even a mention of the Millions paid to the Tulsa Metro Chamber out of the "Hotel Motel Tax"..

What sort of redundant action goes on, as long as this has, without even being put on the table to examine..
We have the Tulsa Metro Chamber, Mister Bunney "sp?", the City Economic Development Board, etc., etc,

This "slice of the City sales tax revenue" is poised to grow to keep pace with the Arena, Convention Center, and other activities in the City of Tulsa..
Anyone, on this Board, know the amount our contribution to the Tulsa Metro Chamber's "slush fund" is at this point??

Someone please, have the "balls", to speak up and ask some questions regarding the huge savings this would bring to the entire City.


[/quote]

[Wilbur]

Looks like city employee pays cuts are going to be used for a new museum and swimming pools:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=272&articleid=20090516_272_A11_Offici130711

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=10371634

Just what this city desperately needs...... swimming pools and a new museum.

Whew!  And, I thought the pay cut savings were going to be wasted.  Silly me.

[nathanm]

Looks like city employee pays cuts are going to be used for a new museum and swimming pools:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=272&articleid=20090516_272_A11_Offici130711

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=10371634

Just what this city desperately needs...... swimming pools and a new museum.

Whew!  And, I thought the pay cut savings were going to be wasted.  Silly me.

I love baseless bitching in the early afternoon.

Where is the indication that operating funds are coming from the city for the museum this year?

And yes, the city does need more pools. Not that they're going to open any more than the seven they did last year.

[guido911]

I love baseless bitching in the early afternoon.

Where is the indication that operating funds are coming from the city for the museum this year?

And yes, the city does need more pools. Not that they're going to open any more than the seven they did last year.

I think the point is that the city should be focused on public safety more than swimming pools, museums, etc. Incidentally, where are all those new police the mayor promised to get?

[nathanm]

I think the point is that the city should be focused on public safety more than swimming pools, museums, etc. Incidentally, where are all those new police the mayor promised to get?

Fearmonger much?

[MH2010]

Been a victim of a crime lately?