Meeting Summary
The City Council adopted a resolution to set public hearings for the upcoming budget, which totals over $1.5 billion and includes significant increases for the general fund due to the quarter-cent sales tax. Key discussions focused on the proposed budget for Public Works, Public Transportation and Parking (including new Sunday bus service and extended night service), and Development Services, with positive trends noted in animal welfare's live release rate.
Key Decisions & Votes
Budget Public Hearings Schedule
03:50A resolution was adopted to set public hearings for budget-related presentations and public comment on May 15th and May 29th.
Executive Session for Collective Bargaining
04:40The council voted unanimously to enter into executive session to discuss collective bargaining negotiations with police, fire, and AFSCME employee groups.
Upcoming Community Events
Arts Council Festival
National Memorial Marathon
18th running, nearly 25,000 participants, 13 foreign countries represented.
Stormwater Quality Special Collection Event
229 participants, collected tires, ammunition, and medication for proper disposal.
Streetcar Vehicle Open House
Highly attended public engagement event.
Summerfield Annual Homeowners Association Meeting
700 homes, good turnout expected.
Stars of Education Event
Recognizing Teacher of the Year and support staff for OKCPS.
Financial Matters
Overall City Budget FY19
Total proposed budget of $1,563.9 million. General fund up over 10% to $460 million due to quarter-cent sales tax and better-than-expected sales tax growth. Other operating funds up 0.4% to $241 million. Non-operating funds significantly up due to Better Streets Safer City sales and use tax, adding over $125 million.
Total City Positions
Increase of 36 positions from amended FY18, totaling 4803 positions. Includes positions for police, fire, Public Works, Development Services, and Airports.
Civic Center Foundation Negotiations
Negotiations to have Civic Center Foundation operate Music Hall, resulting in a reduction of 27 positions in Parks and Recreation.
Public Works Utility Cut Repairs
Bringing utility cut repairs in-house, adding 12 positions. Also adding 5 positions to support Better Streets Safer City projects.
Development Services Positions
Adding 10 new positions across various service areas due to increased occupational taxes from state liquor law changes.
Airports Positions
Adding 7 positions in various areas.
Parks and Recreation Positions
Adding 2 positions for trail maintenance and 2 for field maintenance.
Public Transportation and Parking Funding
Funding included for streetcar operations, Sunday bus service, and enhancement to night service (Route 22).
Police and Fire Funding
Full year of funding for 189 positions funded under the Better Streets Safer City quarter-cent sales tax.
Revenue Sources
Taxes (42% or $653 million), Fees and Charges (14.5%), Transfers (2.5%), Other Revenue (1.3%), Federal Grants (2.5% or $39.1 million), Fund Balance (37.4% or $583 million, with MAPS 3 at 28% or $437 million).
Operating Budget Revenue
Totaling $701 million. Taxes (61% or $425 million, primarily sales tax at $354 million), Fees and Charges (26%), Transfers (2.6%), Interest (0.8%), Fund Balance (2.4%).
General Fund Revenue
Totaling $460 million. Sales tax (55.5%), Other taxes (13.9%, primarily use tax), Franchise fees (9.1%), Fines (4.4% or $20.4 million), Fees and Charges (15.6%), Other revenue (1.5%).
Expenditure Breakdown (Total Budget)
Capital (including MAPS 3 and other capital) is over 41%, Personal Services is the largest category for operating funds (70.5%) and general fund (72%).
General Fund by Service Area
Public Safety (64%), General Government (8.2%), Public Services (18.4%), Culture and Recreation (7.4%).
MAPS 3 Sales Tax Fund Balance
Discussion on projected fund balance for FY18 ($453 million) and FY19 ($437 million), with an estimated $20 million spent on projects in FY18. The budget allows for encumbrance of all available funds.
Investment Policy
City's investment policy prioritizes safety, then liquidity, then return on investment, primarily in government securities.
Public Works Department Budget
Proposed budget of $245 million, up from $130 million, primarily due to Better Streets Safer City funds in non-operating/capital. Operating budget is $53 million, with Streets division accounting for about half.
Public Works Bond Delivery
Increasing bond delivery by about $5 million per year, with sales tax initiatives stacking on top for significant growth in project management and inspections.
Public Transportation and Parking Department Budget
Overall KOTPA trust budget is over $43 million. Bus transit ($29 million), parking ($8.7 million), streetcar ($4 million), Oklahoma River Cruises (under $1 million), bike-share ($223,000).
Parking System Revenue
Parking system is self-sufficient. Daily parkers (14% or $1.2 million), monthly revenue (61% or $5.3 million), event revenue (22% or $1.9 million), other ($300,000).
Transit Operations Funding
City's general fund contribution (under $22 million), federal grant revenue (under $7.5 million), fares ($3.3 million), state revenue (over $1 million), other revenues (over $1 million).
Sunday Bus Service Funding
Proposed budget includes $931,000 for the establishment of Sunday bus service.
Development Services Department Budget
Total operating budget proposed at $19,182,093, about a 10% increase over last year.
Animal Welfare Spay/Neuter Program
Provides over 5,000 free spay and neuters for the community annually.
Public Comments
One citizen expressed strong support for the Route 22 night bus service extension, emphasizing its importance for employment and social mobility for non-choice riders in east Oklahoma City. Another citizen used their time to express strong personal disrespect and criticism towards a specific councilman, including comments about political campaigns, which were noted as off-limits.
Coming Up
Deadlines
- Budget public hearing: May 15
- Budget public hearing: May 29
- Budget adoption: June 5
- Fiscal year begins: July 1
Watch For
- Departmental budget presentations: Police, Fire, IT, and Courts (in two weeks)
- Departmental budget presentations: Airports, Parks, and Utilities (in four weeks)
- Streetcar testing on the B Line (Bricktown loop) to begin end of May
- Streetcar testing on the D Line (downtown loop) to begin in August
- Final streetcars arriving in October
- Streetcar Revenue Service in December
- Sunday bus service to begin in January/February 2019
- Completion of Sheraton Walker parking garage improvement project (mid-summer)
- Code enforcement officers to transition to take-home vehicles (June/July)
- Implementation of Target Zero recommendations for animal welfare
Announcements
- The Arts Council Festival was a great success with beautiful weather and high attendance.
- The 18th National Memorial Marathon had nearly 25,000 participants from 13 foreign countries, with positive feedback on course conditions.
- The streetcar contractor, Hertzog, did an incredible job cleaning up construction sites for the marathon.
- Summerfield's annual homeowners association meeting is tonight.
- The Stars of Education event, recognizing Teacher of the Year and support staff, is tonight.
Agenda Summary
Resolution setting public hearings for budget related presentations and public comment
Resolution to set public hearings on May 15 and May 29 for budget presentations and public comment, following state law for budget approval.
Executive session to discuss collective bargaining negotiations
Discussion regarding collective bargaining negotiations with police, fire, and AFSCME employee groups.
Finance Committee Meeting: Budget Overview
Presentation of the overall city budget for FY19, totaling $1.56 billion, with details on general fund growth, non-operating funds, position changes, and revenue/expenditure breakdowns.
Finance Committee Meeting: Public Works Department Budget Presentation
Presentation of the Public Works Department's proposed FY19 budget, including 18 new positions, focus on street repairs, utility cut repairs, stormwater quality programs, and capital projects.
Finance Committee Meeting: Public Transportation and Parking Department Budget Presentation
Presentation of the Public Transportation and Parking Department's proposed FY19 budget, highlighting fleet maintenance, workforce development, sustainable growth, streetcar operations, new Sunday bus service, and expanded night service.
Finance Committee Meeting: Development Services Department Budget Presentation
Presentation of the Development Services Department's proposed FY19 budget, including 10 new positions, improvements in inspection timeliness and quality, code enforcement efforts, subdivision and zoning processes, and animal welfare programs.