Greetings:
It's an extremely busy time of year at City Hall.
The first group of employees have completed moving from other buildings to the One Technology Center and more will soon follow.
Last Thursday, I presented the proposed City budget for the coming fiscal year to the Tulsa City Council. Despite rising energy and higher healthcare costs, the budget proposes only a 3.3 percent increase over the current year.
We have implemented high performance government measures and realized cost savings as a result, and our department leadership continues to strive to identify efficiencies in our operations and revenue opportunities. Over the next month, I will be discussing details and working with the Council to finalize the budget.
The first Neighborfest of the season is only a few short weeks away. Each Neighborfest is held in a Council district, with the first being held on May 27 in Council District Nine, which is represented by newly elected Councilor
G.T. Bynum. Join us at Whiteside Park, 4009 S. Pittsburg Ave., from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, for free soft-drinks and ice cream and an evening of fun and getting to know neighbors and new friends. Look for additional Neighborfest locations and dates on the City's website.
Sincerely,
Kathy Taylor
Mayor
Monday, May 5, 2008
Mayor Presents FY 08-09 Budget to City Council
Mayor Kathy Taylor presented her executive budget for the City of Tulsa’s Fiscal Year 2008-2009 on Thursday, May 1 at the 6 p.m. regular Tulsa City Council meeting in the Francis Campbell Room.
Despite nearly flat general fund revenue, Mayor Taylor said the proposed budget addresses the Tulsa City Council compendium of needs and continues to emphasize her long-stated priorities of public safety, economic development, education and streets. The FY 09 budget covers the rising costs of energy while also prioritizing funding of police and fire academies and providing annual raises for City employees to move salaries closer to market.
The presentation and the full City Council meeting will be rebroadcast beginning Tuesday, May 6, at 6 p.m. For further schedule information, visit TGOV Online.
Read Mayor Taylor's Budget Speech online
American Idols Live Tour Coming to Tulsa
Tulsa's BOK Center will be the final stop on Sept. 13 for the “American Idols Live” tour featuring the top 10 singers from this season. Tulsa's own David Cook, who is steadily climbing in the ranks each week, will perform on the tour.
“Tulsa welcomes another family friendly show to the BOK Center,” said Mayor Kathy Taylor. “We wish David Cook continued success in the competition. It would be great for another Oklahoman like Carrie Underwood to win it all.”
Going Green with a
New Coat of Paint
As part of Mayor Taylor’s partnership with high school students to beautify their campuses and the new BeGreen environmental awareness initiative, teens from three Tulsa high schools volunteered to add a special artistic touch to the Tulsa Parks’ recycling barrels.
Holland Hall, Central, and Booker T. Washington art students showed their style by going green with a new coat of paint. The students painted designs on 50 barrels, provided by the Tulsa Parks department. Each barrel is retrofitted with special lids for disposing of plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
Tulsa Run Celebrity Runners
and Youth Runners
In spite of their hectic work schedules, Mayor Kathy Taylor and BOK Senior Executive Vice President Steve Bradshaw are breezing through their training times for the October 25 Tulsa Run.
According to Gini McFarland, Hillcrest’s exercise physiologist and trainer for the Tulsa Run celebrity runners, they’re “really motivated and sticking to their training schedules.” Taylor and Bradshaw are running at least three miles, three days a week, as well as strength training and other workouts.
Photo courtesy of the Tulsa World
Environmental Tip:
Plant Native
April and May in Tulsa finds everyone preparing to plant flowers and vegetables and other plants to beautify their yards.
Some plants do better than others in Oklahoma’s climate. If you read the labels on the plants you purchase, you know that some plants thrive in sunny locations, others in shade, and that certain plants grow better in acid soils (azaleas) or may even change color because of the pH of the soil (hydrangeas).
National Police
Week Begins May 11
On October 1, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed into law the week that includes May 15 as National Police Week. Each year this special week honors the officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.
The Tulsa Police Department gathered at the Tulsa Police Academy for a candlelight vigil on May 2 and a memorial service on May 3 to honor Tulsa Police Officers who were killed in the line of duty. They also honored officers who died this past year while serving, as well as those who retired from serving the citizens of Tulsa.
Nationally, 17, 917 officers have been killed in the line of duty. To honor the sacrifice of the fallen officers, each Tulsa Police officer will be wearing mourning bands from May 11th through May 17th.