City Sales Tax Revenues UP 3.28% for year.....

[Wrinkle]

or, about $6.3 Million more than last year, with a month to go.


The County did better, though, there's is UP 4.27%, or about $3.7 Million.


....so, what's all this budget fuss about?

[Wilbur]

or, about $6.3 Million more than last year, with a month to go.


The County did better, though, there's is UP 4.27%, or about $3.7 Million.


....so, what's all this budget fuss about?

Yet, every employee got an email today from the Mayor who said your furlough days are now up to eight days (started at four, went to six, now at eight) with a potential $2.7M more to cut, which simply means more furlough days, yet, .........

[TheArtist]

So far the city employees I have heard comment on this are thrilled to have more days off lol. Anyone else hear differently?

[Oil Capital]

or, about $6.3 Million more than last year, with a month to go.


The County did better, though, there's is UP 4.27%, or about $3.7 Million.


....so, what's all this budget fuss about?

Not to mention the millions of dollars per year in savings and extra efficiencies because of the new city hall.  Seems like the city should be in fine financial shape.

[Red Arrow]

So far the city employees I have heard comment on this are thrilled to have more days off lol. Anyone else hear differently?

My impression is that the days off will be without pay.  Are the city employees aware of this?  Are they just so glad to get a day off they don't care?

[TheArtist]

Yes they were quite aware of it.

[shadows]

The employees are so overpaid that they want the time off to spend the money in the new stores that have moved into the burbs where more than half of the employees now live.  With the budgeting affixed by statute, future estimates cannot be compared with previous incomes.  Tulsa needs to annex all of Tulsa County except Tulsa city may be subservient to the County.
Still who in Tulsa pays any attention to state statues?

[rwarn17588]

Still who in Tulsa pays any attention to state statues?

Why should we pay attention to statues? They don't do anything.

[Wilbur]

My impression is that the days off will be without pay.  Are the city employees aware of this?  Are they just so glad to get a day off they don't care?

Thrilled!  With the 142% increase in health insurance and the eight furlough days, I'm going to be out $3500!  Yeah, that helps the economy.

[Townsend]

Why should we pay attention to statues? They don't do anything.

Maybe not in your head.

[sgrizzle]

Thrilled!  With the 142% increase in health insurance and the eight furlough days, I'm going to be out $3500!  Yeah, that helps the economy.

I'm down about the same and yet I don't feel the need to repeatedly lambaste the head of my organization in a public forum. Myself and my coworkers get to keep their jobs so I'm willing to be reasonable and suck it up.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't police generally working a lot of overtime already? Wouldn't this mean theoretically they get to charge up to 8 days to overtime instead of regular pay?

We could go Christiansen's route and just lay some people off.

[cannon_fodder]

+ ~$7,000,000 in sales tax revenue

+ ~$1,500,000  in savings from the new City Hall (15.2mil over 10 years)

+ 3 new taxes on the way or here (road, expo, downtown ballpark)

+ Increase in real estate market in Tulsa

+ County with more money (city not covering county duties)

+ BOk Center paying for itself, new bond issues passed just fine, no unexpected crisis to cover (another ice storm, for example).



I'm not trying to be obtuse, but why are we in a budget crisis?

[Wrinkle]

Don't forget the new EMSA Tax, $3.64/mo from every water meter. This produces a surplus to the city over the amount paid EMSA.

Also, there's been a 7% increase in water bills three years in a row, a 25% increase in Stormwater Management Fees, and Sewer rates are tied to water rates.

Generally, there's been huge increases in fees, permits and ticket costs, too.

City revenues are well above last year.

[tulsa_fan]

From my we've heard the patrol officers won't actually get days off, they will just get a decrease in pay, since there are minimum manning issues.  For once, I'd probably agree with an FOP grevience, that's not fair to just decrease their pay without the time off when everyone else is getting it (including other officers)  who knows though, there is always so much gossip.  And yes, as I said earlier, the officers can make up the decrease in pay with overtime.  They are hiring officers back at overtime rates on almost every shift, every day.   

Back on topic, it doesn't make a lot of sense that there is some massive shortfall projection with all the increases going on ? ? ? ?

[DTowner]

Original post said receipts were up over last year, but did not provide comparison of receipts to the budgeted projections for this year - which is where a shortfall will occur.  Continued, albeit slower, sales tax revenue growth is better than what many cities are facing around the country, but it doesn't mean we don't have a budget shorfall that must be closed.

Furloughs may be the better solution to the problem if you believe the problem to be a one year hiccup.