Mayor Taylor presents budget with flat revenues

Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Despite economic pressures and standstill revenues that mirrored the state budget, Mayor Kathy Taylor said the City has identified cost efficiencies and implemented high performance government processes that allowed the City to enhance core services to the citizens of Tulsa.

Sales tax collections were up slightly for this year and continuing general revenue will grow by only one percent, remaining essentially flat for Fiscal Year 2009.

Mayor Taylor said the City has experienced significant pressures on municipal finances, including the $24 million cost of the ice storm and rising energy prices.

“Over the last year we have introduced some new approaches to meet our challenges, including cost savings measures such as high performance government and LEAN business processes. ImageThe budget for the City of Tulsa is reflective of the economic conditions being experienced by the rest of the state, but we are creating more efficiencies and are working to enhance customer services in our priority areas – public safety, economic development and education,” Taylor said.

Earlier this month, Gov. Henry recently announced a standstill budget agreement because of a shortfall in the state’s tax collections. City of Tulsa sales and use tax collections were forecast to increase by 4 percent in the current fiscal year, but slower growth prevailed with a gain of only 3 percent. Next year, a 3 percent increase is expected in the general fund, but the starting base will be smaller. Also next year, FEMA’s reimbursement for the costs associated with the December 2007 ice storm will be recorded as revenue, but the funds will be used to reimburse funds used from the emergency operating reserve to pay for storm recovery costs.

Mayor Taylor will present the budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 to the Tulsa City Council at its meeting this Thursday, May 1, at 6 p.m. Mayor Taylor will discuss cost savings that have been achieved by leveraging ideas and best practices from a variety of resources including the business community, other major cities and city employees. Mayor Taylor also directed the redeployment of resources to ensure maintenance of core customer services across city departments.

The Mayor’s presentation to the Council may be viewed during the Council meeting televised on TGOV Channel 24 via Cox Communications at 6 p.m., May 1.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 April 2008 )