Tulsa city councilors propose $965,000 worth of additional spending in the fiscal year 2017 budget.
Among the items councilors want to fund is restoring 14 911 call takers.
"All of us ... told the citizens of Tulsa that they would be getting additional 911 call takers to take their calls and respond to their calls for help in a quick and orderly way, and it's important that we fulfill that promise," said Councilor G.T. Bynum.
The mayor’s fiscal year 2017 budget proposal eliminated funding for the positions, which the head of the 911 center said was used to pay overtime.
Another change is adding a building and license permit specialist so business applications aren’t delayed.
"It would also retain the senior assistant city attorney who is the police advisor, it would retain the main street programs many of us believe pay for themselves in actual value that is derived," Bynum said. "It would restore 140 of the police helicopter flight hours that were reduced."
With $965,000 in additional spending, councilors need $965,000 in savings.
The biggest chunk comes from a smaller-than-planned decrease in the fees city utilities pay in lieu of taxes. Since they don’t pay franchise or sales taxes like PSO or ONG, the city charges a fee of roughly the same amount.
Policy Administrator Jack Blair said with private utilities facing a combined tax of 6.15 percent, city utilities’ fee shouldn’t fall to 5.8.
"If we use that, 6 percent, as the new target — at least in the short term — rather than the 5.8 percent assumed in the budget, that would leave an additional $517,000," Blair said.
Councilors also proposed a more optimistic projection of use tax revenue. They're expected to approve a city budget next week.
