Oklahoma City Council Faces Tough Decisions on Budget Cuts

By Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Budget problems are forcing city leaders to make some tough decisions. For the 10th month in a row, Oklahoma City's sales tax revenue was down leaving a $17.5 million shortfall in the budget.

Tuesday morning at the city council meeting, city leaders heard recommendations on how to save money.

"If we get back to normal growth levels at best we're three years out before we see the same level we had projected for this year," said Craig Freeman, Budget Director for the City of Oklahoma City.

Tuesday it was announced that 37 positions have been eliminated. Of the eliminated positions only one person lost their job, the other positions were either vacant or people were moved to other positions within the city.

To save even more money, the city is closing the Hathaway Recreation Center, reducing the hours at the Municipal Building and decreasing mowing.

"Well, it may be times when it's well over six weeks before we mow a median or a right away so it will have an impact and people will see that," said Wendel Whisenhunt, Director for Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation.

The original proposal called for the elimination of 76 uniform positions, but since the approval of MAPS 3, it is now being recommended the MAPS 3 Use Tax be used to prevent layoffs of any uniformed police officers or firefighters. The proposal also calls for adding 20 police officers and 10 firefighters. One City Council member does not like that idea.

"I don't think that's good financial management to add employees anywhere at a time when we are projecting further deficits," said Pete White, City Councilman Ward 4. "I think we are all going to have to tighten our belts and figure out how to get through this without… I just think that's a bad idea."

A date to consider the recommendations will be set within the next month.

The city is already looking ahead to fiscal year 2011. Among the options the city is considering is asking all departments to make a 12 percent cut.

In other council news, they voted to take A1 Taxi Services off probation because they have not received any calls or complaints. Back in July 2009, A1 Taxis was put on probation because the traffic commission received complaints the company refused to give rides to some customers.