Despite potential cuts, the OKC budget proposal could be highest ever: Here's what we know
Oklahoma City officials are rolling out the budget process for the 2025 fiscal year, and nearly every city department is facing cuts.
Because of an expected slowdown in sales tax revenue growth that began the previous fiscal year, city management asked various departments to prepare for budget reductions for the first time in several years. Oklahoma City Manager Craig Freeman said the cuts were necessary to limit costs and balance the budget.
“If you look at the current year, we’re at about 1.5% (sales tax) growth, and for next year, we’re looking at about 1.5% growth that’s projected,” Freeman said. “That’s about half of what our normal growth is in sales tax, a little bit less than half. The effect that has had is we’ve had growth in salaries, growth in other costs due to inflation, and a lot of pressures on us that have pushed the budget upward that have increased our costs, and revenue’s just not keeping pace.”
Despite the cuts, there also are some additions in the proposed budget, which in total would reach $2 billion — an increase of $85 million compared to the previous fiscal year. The FY2025 budget would be the highest budget the city has ever had.
The General Fund, which is the main source for the city’s day-to-day operations, is budgeted at $615 million — while other operating funds would total just under $303 million. Non-operating funds, largely driven by capital improvements under the ongoing MAPS 4 program, would be budgeted at $1.087 billion.
What could be cut? What could be added?
The Oklahoma City police and fire departments have proposed a 0.75% budget reduction, while most other city departments proposed a 2% reduction. Together, the police and fire department account for nearly 60% of the city’s general fund.
The proposals for each department include:
OKC Fire:
Cut one fire lieutenant position from the Information Technology program.
Add 20 positions, equipment and supplies to start a Crisis Response Team and Crisis Call Diversion Program; 70% of the program would be funded by the city's General Fund and 30% by an opioid settlement.
Add three senior dispatch positions ($272,000) to address increased call volume, as well as $800,000 for training and technology funded through the Fire Sales Tax.
Police:
Cut one vacant administrative support technician position and one vacant latent print examiner position, two vacant office assistant positions, two vacant community relation coordinator positions, and two vacant police service technician positions. Also to reduce $1.2 million of expenditures in "miscellaneous line items."
Add $500,000 for supplies and equipment in the Public Safety Sales Tax, along with $200,000 in budgeted contingency.
Add $233,000 and three positions to the Real Time Information Center in helping to address crime.
Add two recruiting administrative specialists ($169,000) and a traffic safety crime analyst ($72,000)
Public Works: Cut positions for an administrative coordinator, a safety analyst, a civil engineer and a concrete finisher. Also to reduce the department's asphalt budget by $217,135.
Public Transportation and Parking: Privatize the city's Spokies bike-sharing program and cutting a Spokies position for savings of $311,680. Add an administrative specialist for the Regional Transit Authority and add $1.9 million in funding for contracts, maintenance, overtime and Streetcar operations.
Parks and Recreation: Cut weekend cleaning services at reservable pavilions ($61,200), repurposing Minnis Lakeview Center ($121,000) and repurposing Shilling Center ($172,000). Add three positions and repair/maintenance funds for the Woodson Park Sports Complex ($632,175).
More: Proposed city budget cuts would shutter access to Martin Park two days a week
Municipal Court: Cut a probation officer, an officer clerk, an office coordinator and a quality control coordinator, for total savings of $217,529. Add two customer service representatives due to increased workload in financial processing.
Information Technology (IT): Reduce various licensing and wireless services ($408,000), add funding for contract increases ($645,000), add a systems support specialist funded by Airports.
Development Services: Cut three vacant positions of provisional code inspector, unit operations leader and business intelligence specialist, for savings of $250,000.
General Services: Cut a vacant skilled trades worker position ($93,500), and reduce the city's fleet services fuel budget by $236,000
Finance Department: Cut an office coordinator ($90,000), administrative coordinator ($105,000) and municipal accountant ($33,000) positions due to decreased workloads.
Utilities: Potentially move $1.7 million of operating funds for the Root Control and FOG (Fats Oils and Grease) programs and $200,000 for cellphone service and equipment to the Utilities trust. Add a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system analyst funded through a contract with Tinker Air Force Base.
Municipal Counselor: Add a permanent assistant municipal counselor position ($102,000) with funding from the Utilities trust.
Other proposals also include:
Adding $1.2 million to implement recommendations from the law enforcement policy and homelessness task forces.
Adding $142.3 million to the MAPS 4 program fund budget.
Adding $42 million to the ARPA and Emergency Rental Assistance programs.
How can residents get involved?
The budget is guided by feedback received from the city's annual resident survey. Data from the survey also helps set priorities for the city council, including criminal justice reforms, improving community wellness, developing an accessible transportation system, revitalizing neighborhoods and maintaining financial management.
Freeman said the budget was proposed with the goal of maintaining high standard service levels for residents while also maintaining momentum with long-term projects addressing homelessness, policing reform recommendations and MAPS 4.
Budget presentations for the public transportation, parks and development services departments are scheduled for May 14 at City Hall. Proposals for public works, utilities and airport budgets are expected to be presented May 28, where a final public hearing on the budget also will take place.
Budget adoption is scheduled for June 4, which is before the state’s statutory deadline. City employees are encouraging residents to review the proposed budget book and submit comments by June 4. Residents can leave feedback online at vision.okc.gov/budget-feedback, by email at budgetcomments@okc.gov, or by texting 405-252-1053. Comments also can be mailed to the city clerk's office at 200 N Walker Ave., 2nd floor, Oklahoma City, OK 73120.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City budget proposal: Cuts, additions to departments
