focuses, (5/3/2009 3:38:39 AM)

Kathy Taylor is still upset about the "Police union wins in contract arbitration" headline in February. Ironic, the Tulsa World was laying off employees due to the economy as the City of Tulsa was increasing salaries by 4% via January 1 annual increases. Safe to say deferring the annual increase would have eliminated the issue altogether...

focuses, (5/3/2009 3:45:16 AM)

And perhaps a reversal of the increases for those staff with incomes in excess of the median household income.

Observer3, Tulsa (5/3/2009 6:39:54 AM)

Let's hope the City Council really takes a look at the budget and doesn't just rubber stamp it as they seem to do with all of the Mayor's other projects that end up costing the City and taxpayers. Couldn't we do without Plan-it-Tulsa and some other non-essential programs? If we're in a budget crunch, let's stick to the meat-and-bones items.

tnt091605, (5/3/2009 9:49:32 AM)

I just cannot believe that Taylor thinks that furloughs for public safety employees is a good idea! They are already short handed and cannot keep up with the calls. Listen to a scanner. Officers have to go to calls without back up or not go at all. They always go and say send me one when they become available. That is dangerous. They advise on vehicle stops so that the others can take calls. Furloughs might look like a good idea on paper but are they really what is best for Tulsa? I say NO!

CimeFighter, (5/3/2009 10:17:03 AM)

I am a Tulsa Police Officer. As most of us understand these tough economic times call for caution. I believe there are other options that should be cut before public safety. However, I am willing to take 4 unpaid days as long as public and officer safety are not jeopardized. We are already so short handed that it makes the job very difficult. The mayor had not hired 1 additional officer even though the manpower study showed we needed more. Citizens deserve better response times and officers deserve backers to assist them when they feel their safety is in jeopardy. If the 4 days does not drop the number of officers below what is set as the minimum required, I am willing to do my part and take the 4 days.

waterbill, Tulsa (5/3/2009 11:02:59 AM)

Once again the "Non-essential Employees" will be bearing the weight of the budget woes of this City. According to City Charter, furloughs are illegal. If lay-offs are implemented, the ones last hired, are the first to go. I will bet not one councilor will not give up any staff to help the budget woes. The employees in the IT/IS unit should not be paid more than what the set salary is for the Mayor. STOP all of the outside audits. STOP all hiring. The day the Mayor had a town hall meeting with the employees, attending were seven employees hired that day. A hiring freeze means no hiring! How many exceptions did the City Councilors approve to the hiring freeze?
How much longer is this City Council going to assist this Mayor in breaking this City. What is the increase cost to the City of Tulsa over the new ballpark? The amount now owed in property taxes by the City of Tulsa has now tripled? A city employee ask why the City of Tulsa has to hire a Okla. City Law firm to do negotiations with the City Unions. Instead of telling the truth, the Mayor answered "If the Unions didn't bring lawyers to the negotiation table, the City wouldn't have to hire a lawyer to fight them." Which union is bringing a lawyer to negotiations?

Union Prez, (5/3/2009 12:06:50 PM)

Let's see what the response would be from the citizens of Tulsa if they were told that they could not use water for four days this year, then add that they could not use the sewer system for four days this year, then there would be no driving on city streets for four days this year, then there would be no 911 calls for four days this year, then no phone calls to city hall to ask for help to correct their personal situations, then no flights out of Tulsa for four days this year, no running of river parks for four days, no bicyles on the streets for four days, no permits or contracts for four days, no city council or tare board meeting for four days this year. Would this be sharing the burden of the City Budget, or are we going to once again lay this burden on the shoulders of the ones we need the most? What four days will be forced on the City Council including the Mayor and her staff? I hope that city councilors remember what they are asking of the "non-essential" employees before approving this budget.

Observer3, Tulsa (5/3/2009 12:17:19 PM)

As I see it, and as it has been explained to me, it's a pay cut for the City employees--pure and simple. As of July 1st, their paychecks will be cut by 1.54% twice a month for the entire fiscal year. They can take four days off during that year, but the money comes out of each and every paycheck. And will the City Council take a pay cut, too?

tfromtulsa, Tulsa (5/3/2009 12:20:26 PM)

That $7.1 million she handed over to BOK after having the City of Tulsa added to the Great Plains lawsuit would really come in handy right about now.

I guess the important thing is that BOK didn't lose any money and no BOK executives lost their jobs over a defaulted convoluted loan.

Kitty may not take care of the Tulsa citizens or City of Tulsa employees, but she sure takes care of her friends.

cosmo7, (5/3/2009 1:25:33 PM)

While the councilors are pondering this budget I hope they question why the Social and Economic Development budget has been raised from 7.9 million dollars to over 21 million dollars since 2007. Some pertinent questions might be:

What does this department SPECIFICALLY do? (i know they do economic and social development but how exactly?
If we are cutting back everywhere else, why are they growing 3 fold in 24 months? their 300% growth accounts for all of the budget deficit.
What apocalyptic cataclysm would occur if we scaled them back to the 7.9mil they had 24 months ago, saving 14 million dollars and avoided layoffs, rate hikes. furloughs, and the budget problem entirely?

Thunder196, (5/3/2009 1:40:21 PM)

Again we hear, raise the sewer usage fee, and the trash pick up fees, water fees, etc, etc, etc, What about the people and investment companies who are buying up single family dwelling houses (in areas zoned for single family dwelling) and moving in anywhere from 6 to 10 families and only paying for single family rates. If these people want to rent to multiple families, then let them apply for a zoning change. Again the taxpayer is going to foot the bill because the city can't or I should say won't enforce these city codes. By city I mean our Queen Bee Mayor and City Councilors who work for her, not the people they are suppose to represent.

dTHREE, TULSA (5/3/2009 2:14:27 PM)

cosmo7,

YES! I too would like an explanation!

You rational seems too rational for this city though being it is a solution staring us in the face.

What of the $ 5, 500, 000. 00 shuffle of funds in this budget also?

thinblueline, (5/3/2009 3:25:55 PM)

Waterbill: The lawyers started showing up from the city when she arrived.

Its not just with negotiations where outsiders come to play on the cities dime. Insurance, workers comp, studies after studies - all outside CONSULTANTS. Where does this money come from.

And after this last arbitration the city lost with the FOP, recordings of the negotiations are now banned. Why??? Appears the city didn't like to hear the playbacks after they denied saying something....

She has run this city into the ground. I would also like to know just what or which friend of the mayor is benefiting from this Social and Economic Development fund. Sounds like a bunch of rich folks gettign richer from the backs of the citizens. You know, the rich take care of the rich.

Resident - 6th floor, (5/3/2009 6:37:26 PM)

Discussion at one of the TFD stations shows a willingness to take 4 unpaid days in order to be in step with other City of Tulsa employees. However, there is a concern that the firefighter and police officer shortages would then result in the need for overtime costs to the City. Some TPD and TFD personnel will be retiring and others may need to leave their jobs due to family or other personal needs. resulting in additional manpower shortages. Paying overtime to call in furloughed personnel to back-up an officer or meet the minimum personnel requirement (engine driver?) on a fire truck would be costly.

Be_Realistic, (5/3/2009 7:25:38 PM)

I must agree about all the studies and audits. Somebody is getting their pockets lined due to the mayor and city council calling for a study on everything...typically at $50000 and more. Slightly absurd when you are as "broke" as the city is. It is so easy though when you are spending somebody elses money or taking somebody else wages away!

Resident - 6th floor, (5/3/2009 7:29:21 PM)

My typo error. "Furloughed" should have been "off-duty." To avoid overtime pay, the TPD and TFD would need to designate "stand-by" personnel who would commit availability to report to work in any area or station as emergencies arise.

Sy4, (5/3/2009 8:05:40 PM)

Observer3, still does not have it right, this is not a reduction in salary as presented, it is a reduction in time worked, subsequently COT employess will not be paid for the four furlough days they may have to take in the new fiscal year if this proposal is approved by the city councilors. In your previous comment on this story you understood it to be a bonus, four furlough days, for employess since they were going to get a pay cut. Again this is all moot conversation since the city counsel has to decide on this proposal, everyone concerned, and as these comments indicate there is a lot of concern, should contact their respective city counselor and voice the opinions.

J C OK, Tulsa County (5/3/2009 10:00:18 PM)

I say cut out the overpaid mayor's staff. She needs to start in those offices and their assistants first.
Counselors stand your ground, please.

Observer3, Tulsa (5/4/2009 4:22:06 AM)

Sy4: Your response of "this is not a reduction in salary AS PRESENTED" is sooooo correct. The Mayor can put any spin on it she wants to, but it is a pay cut. If your paycheck is reduced by 1.54% every pay day, that's a pay cut; then you can take your four furlough days any time after the "pay cut" starts. Sure sounds like you work for the Mayor's Office--more smoke and mirrors.

Sy4, (5/4/2009 7:42:08 AM)

Observer3, the difference for city employees is distinct between an actual salary decrease and furlough days, with furlough days your salary remains the same, so that when times improve and furlough days are not required an employee will get paid the same rate as prior to the furlough days. If the actual rates are lowered then they will have to go back through the process of raising them back to where they were before which can prove to be difficult. No I do not work in the mayor's office.

JReel, Tulsa (5/4/2009 8:21:04 AM)

I just had a question. The several members of the Police and Fire Department are saying that they cannot take the furloughs because of Public Safety issues.

Does that mean that they can no longer take sick days and/or vacation days?

The ONLY difference between a furlough day and a vacation day is that you get paid for one, and you dont for the other.

I would imagine that if these furloughs were PAID days off, that nobody would be proclaiming that Public Safety will suffer.

dTHREE, TULSA (5/4/2009 10:00:24 AM)

However this shakes out, the long term solution is to grow the tax base and to do this requires bringing in new dollars from beyond a 100 mile radius. Anything inside 100 miles is just regurgitation of old dollars.

tnt091605, (5/4/2009 10:56:16 AM)

Report Comment
JReel, Tulsa (5/4/2009 8:21:04 AM)
I just had a question. The several members of the Police and Fire Department are saying that they cannot take the furloughs because of Public Safety issues.

Does that mean that they can no longer take sick days and/or vacation days?

The ONLY difference between a furlough day and a vacation day is that you get paid for one, and you dont for the other.

I would imagine that if these furloughs were PAID days off, that nobody would be proclaiming that Public Safety will suffer.

Vacation days and sick days are already taken into account when establishing the number of officers required to protect the city. Furlough days are not.

Observer3, Tulsa (5/4/2009 11:55:59 AM)

Sy4: Smoke and mirrors. Will the employees be taking home less money? Yes. Will their pension and Social Security benefits be affected? Yes. If you want to play a semantics game--fine, but the results are the same--a pay cut and lower pension and Social Security benefits as a result.

Norm, (5/4/2009 12:01:32 PM)

Let me clue some of you into something: Every August, Tulsa Police undergoes "shift change". Officers can bid for a certain shift - that includes geographic location, days on/off, hours etc...
Among the officers "bidding" for an area/shift, are those officers who are VERY close to retirement. They're on "plan B" - where they've picked their retirement date - and are on their way out. Those officers USUALLY have accrued a TON of PTO (vacation time, sick pay etc...).

Those officers will still be assigned a shift - and then will use up ALL of their outstanding Paid Time Off before retirement. So - there are shifts out there, that are short officers from the get-go. They're assigned to an area - and yet will not work a day there until retirement.

Now then, they don't assign ANOTHER officer to cover that are - they're all assigned elsewhere. So - that area just suffers a shortage until that shift is reassigned due to the retirement of the officer, or another academy class.

Now - add to that the normal "REAL" vacation time, sick/injured days etc.. that occur in the course of a week - and you're even shorter staffed.

Some of the busiest parts of Tulsa are only covered by 1 or 2 officers on most nights!! Areas of Tulsa the size of Owasso are covered by a third as many officers as Owasso has staffed on any given night!!!

Result? There will be no catching of crime "in the act". The officers assigned to that area can do nothing but run from one call to the next. Most of those calls have been holding for HOURS (and HOURS, and HOURS....).

Somebody broke into your car? Expect to wait 4hrs MINIMUM.
Have an emergency? The police will take longer to get there, since the responding officer will probably have to drive further to get there (since he/she is assigned to a further away area - and just happened to be the only one free at the moment).

And now Queen Kathy wants to reduce their already thin staffing EVEN MORE???

Cut your outrageously large staff first. If that doesn't work - cut some of the non-essential staff.

Cut Public Safety LAST (or not at all).