Continued...
This budget for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2010, which begins July 1, 2009, was the result of some extremely difficult decisions. We were challenged to cut expenses in order to balance with lower revenues.
Revenues, particularly sales taxes and interest income, began flattening out in the fall of 2008, and began a downward trend in April. Revenues are projected to continue declining through at least December 2009. In order to plan for this, the City of Tulsa had to cut expenses in the general fund, which was accomplished through a combination of eliminating positions, some of which were filled, requesting 32 hours of furlough from all employees and reducing expenses for supplies, materials and other services. Our primary goal was to keep our core services, those services only government is responsible for providing, at current levels, with minimal impact to citizens. We are asking our departments to perform these services with fewer resources, but all departments came to the table with plans for participating in cost reductions. We worked together to analyze the impact position cuts would have, to create positions critical to our mission and to propose the final budget. We have several vacant positions that are vital to our success, and employees who were impacted by cuts will have the opportunity to pursue those positions.
Now that the City Council has received the proposed budget, they have until June 23 to discuss and adopt a budget. Next year's budget, as well as the current year's budget is available online.
Sincerely,
Kathy Taylor,
Mayor