hey mayor, you got my vote & $- where's the beef?

[Chicken Little]

Wilbur,

You should read Councilor Martinson's report, "Municipal Revenues and Fiscal Constraints" (March 2008).

quote: As the previous slide clearly shows, we've maintained our focus on public safety, but this has forced us to eliminate services in other areas.

I don't want anyone to miss the point that our realneeds exceed our resources. The budget balances because it has to.

In some cases we have cut beyond the fat and are deep into the muscle. We are working on implementing LEAN processes, but they will take time and will not cover the entire gap.

People talk about tax increases, but the last time the City of Tulsa had a tax increase was with the first 3rd penny in 1980. The 3rd Penny is a temporary tax, approved by the voters, and is essentially restricted to fund capital projects.

The City has relied on a 2% sales tax since 1971 to fund operations. Granted, sales taxes rise with the price of goods purchased, but as those prices increase, so do our costs. We could probably maintain services in such an environment, but other factors are working against us as you will soon see.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Rico

Tulsa Now could be a catalyst for the formation of many limited partnership investments...

I respect your respectful disagreement sir.

Why on earth would we ever want TN to become something more productive than trading barbs and insults, and a place to rate your favorite restaurant???  Oh, the nerve!!! []

My point may not have been real coherent about the difference of approach.  To me, the "Stakeholders" was a turn off because they were willing to put money where their mouth was on public land, but I also saw it as an "our way or the highway" approach.  May not have been reality but that was my perception and why it really left a bad taste in my mouth.  The whole presentation seemed very elitest to me.

Kaiser's gift had fewer strings attached and didn't leave me feeling like myself and other Tulsan's are too big of boobs to know what they want or what is good for public development and enjoyment.

FWIW, on the TYpros/YPT thread the question was posed about who has done the most.  As far as young professionals, the Jaycees have done more tangible for this community than anyone will ever know and have been doing it for ages.  There's a difference between talking and doing.  Aa5drvr isn't far off the mark.

[Hometown]

Wilbur, As I remember it Mayor Taylor held neighborhood meetings throughout the city to get citizen input on what they want in a new chief of police.  She developed a consensus from that input and she is now acting on the consensus.  

I also have a family member at City Hall that continues to say she is an excellent manager.  No one knows a boss like the folks that work for the boss.

In regards to her use of private attorneys, I would say this woman is a smart cookie.

Good gawd I'd hate to wake up and face what she faces everyday.  You go girl.  It's not easy being a Democrat in a Republican era in a Republican-controlled town.

[cannon_fodder]

Rico:

I do not have lots of money. Nor do I have the means to get lots of money.

However, if someone had the ambition to start a Tulsa venture capitalist fund I would do everything I could to buy in.  Make it a LP with a $1K buy in or something and you could attract people that have an entrepreneurial spirit but not the resources nor perhaps the time (or stomach) to lay it all on the line.

Interesting concept anyway.

[Hometown]

I checked with a friend about Venture Funds for Tulsa start ups a couple of years ago and he said there are already several.

[RecycleMichael]

I would be a venture capitalist if I had more money.

I annually get a seven figure salary... unfortunately, there is a decimal point involved.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

I would be a venture capitalist if I had more money.

I annually get a seven figure salary... unfortunately, there is a decimal point involved.

Point of humor taken.. from the VIP from the MET...

Correct me if I am wrong RM but in the "good ole days" when the President of Tulsa Now completed a calendar year of service....There was a letter from the President kind of highlighting the accomplishments and challenges faced during the year... Then a summation of hopes and the direction of things to come..

One such letter; addressed the need for Tulsa Now to be able to hire or pay an individual to manage and coordinate future plans of action....etc.

I attended a meeting at Harwelden, two years ago, where there was an idea put forth for a "revolving fund"...The purpose of this fund; to be able to step in if there were to be future demolitions... Such as Skelly and the Auto Hotel..

How might a LP, as suggested by cannon, be that far from what has been suggested in the past...

Oh wise one with the ear of the Queen and many, many, a boardroom.

  I know this can not destroy any plans to make Tulsa Now a non profit..

For Pete's sake Southern Hills is a non profit..


So, as you are enjoying your Stilton on Water Cracker and fine Merlot, perhaps you can see if there is anything other than a "decimal point"
of interest?

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

Isn't that amazing?

75 of 77 counties can fund fire departments this way, but the two urban counties can't.

Rural Oklahoma politics is what is hurting Oklahoma.

OMG, we agree on something!

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

I checked with a friend about Venture Funds for Tulsa start ups a couple of years ago and he said there are already several.

So what have they done for us lately...?

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

Wilbur,

You should read Councilor Martinson's report, "Municipal Revenues and Fiscal Constraints" (March 2008).

quote: As the previous slide clearly shows, we've maintained our focus on public safety, but this has forced us to eliminate services in other areas.

I don't want anyone to miss the point that our realneeds exceed our resources. The budget balances because it has to.

In some cases we have cut beyond the fat and are deep into the muscle. We are working on implementing LEAN processes, but they will take time and will not cover the entire gap.

People talk about tax increases, but the last time the City of Tulsa had a tax increase was with the first 3rd penny in 1980. The 3rd Penny is a temporary tax, approved by the voters, and is essentially restricted to fund capital projects.

The City has relied on a 2% sales tax since 1971 to fund operations. Granted, sales taxes rise with the price of goods purchased, but as those prices increase, so do our costs. We could probably maintain services in such an environment, but other factors are working against us as you will soon see.

To say the Mayor's proposal to raise money through a fire protection district is not a tax increase is just flat wrong.  And for the good councilor to say taxes haven't been raised in Tulsa since 1980 is just flat wrong.

An increase in revenue to a government through new fees or an increase in existing fees is a tax increase, regardless if you say those fees will be used for a specific purpose or you don't call it a tax.  That raise in my water/sewer rates equals a tax increase.  That new EMSA subsidy added to my water bill (I opted out - don't forget to opt out by June 30) equals a tax increase.  That 911 subsidy added to my phone bill equals a tax increase.  The increase in sales tax for Vision 2025, of which the majority of the money goes to the City, equals a tax increase.  That temporary Whirlpool tax equals a tax increase.  All of these have happened since 1980.  Shall I go on?

The problem with the spin that comes out from City Hall is they only quote ONE section of the City's total budget picture, and that is the operating budget.  Problem is, there are lots more budgets, such as the capital budget and others.  I will totally agree that 2 cents of our sales taxes goes to fund the operating budget and no other taxes are identified to operating expenses.  But whose fault is that?  We add taxes on top of taxes but always specifically say those new taxes can't be used for operating expenses.  Nothing says Third Penny can't be used for operating expenses, it's just that is how Third Penny is offered up to the tax payers.

Like I have said before, you must look at total city expenditures, not just one section of the budget.  I will stand by my previous statement, the city is spending record amounts of money.

You mention the City's budget is flat when compared to inflation.  I agree the operating budget is flat when compared to inflation.  And personnel costs, health care costs, fuel costs, all go into inflation, just as it does for every citizen in this town.  That is what inflation is.  Additionally, a budget that keeps up with inflation, such as Tulsa's, is what many people want.  They don't want new programs creeping up every time government finds new money to spend.

I agree with everyone at City Hall that employee costs are the majority of city expenditures in the operating budget (but not the total budget picture).  Government is strictly non-profit, we don't sell a product, so as with any non-profit agency, the majority of our expenditure will be on personnel.  I also agree public safety is the majority of the operating budget (but not the total budget picture), as it is with every government agency.  Fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, ........ are expensive.

I get tired of hearing how poor the City SAYS they are, but we seem to have plenty of money to buy a new City Hall, or some other pet project depending on who the mayor is.  Again, it all comes down to priorities in spending.

[Hometown]

What have venture capitalists done for Tulsa lately?  Apparently not much.

Take a drive over to NW Arkansas or down to Texas to see what prosperity looks like.

Taylor's a good leader but she's not a miracle worker.

Tulsa is a study in what happens to a company town when the company leaves.

[Conan71]

I always hear the "Dragnet" theme when I see Hometown has added to a thread: "Dum de dum-dum, dum de dum-dum dum"

Here's a little gift for you my old friend:



It's a long-shot, but I'm hoping these will help with your myopia.

[Hometown]

My dear friend Conan, you weren't here when Tulsa was the Oil Capital of the World.  I was.

Some day we are going to have to talk about who was in charge when the oil industry bailed on Tulsa (Inhofe) and why they let the industry leave without putting up a good fight.

Meanwhile, Kathy Taylor is just about the best mayor we can hope for, but she can't turn things around by herself.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

My dear friend Conan, you weren't here when Tulsa was the Oil Capital of the World.  I was.

Some day we are going to have to talk about who was in charge when the oil industry bailed on Tulsa (Inhofe) and why they let the industry leave without putting up a good fight.

Meanwhile, Kathy Taylor is just about the best mayor we can hope for, but she can't turn things around by herself.

Yes, I know HT, you are so old you taught Jesus carpentry. []

So it was that creep Inhofe's fault.

And here all along I've always believed what my petroleum geologist (former) step-father and grandfather, who was in the biz, were telling me at the time:

The bottom fell out of oil prices, consolidation of operations was necessary for survival, large volume oil fields in Oklahoma and Kansas were playing out, U.S. exploration was shifting from the continental U.S. to the Gulf of Mexico, and Houston was 500 miles closer to the Gulf, ICW, and refineries;  more direct airline transportation to foreign countries where oil exploration had gone, etc.

I guess my step-dad and grandfather really were lying bastards after-all.  Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[Hometown]

Have you ever seen a town fight to keep a business that was considering leaving?  I certainly have.  The fact that Inhofe let the oil industry abandon Tulsa without so much as a whimper makes one question his loyalties, who he was serving and where his bread was buttered.  I think most of us know the answer to those questions.

I'm certainly no spring chicken Conan.  I guess you could say I have the long view.  If you were from Tulsa you would know to show some respect for your elders.