Pandemic behind proposed city budget cuts

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Oklahoma City will try to minimize layoffs while cutting jobs in the upcoming fiscal year to make up for the COVID-19 pandemic's battering of government revenue.

Budget Director Doug Dowler went over the proposed 2020-21 budget Tuesday with the city council.

Public budget hearings will continue weekly through June 16, when a vote to adopt the budget is scheduled. The new spending plan takes effect July 1.

City executives held out hope the blow would be lessened by Congress, which could authorize federal funds to offset sharp drops in sales tax and other revenue sources.

"We're working every angle we can," said Mayor David Holt.

The $1.658 billion budget proposal includes:

• Freezing positions for 34 police officers and 21 firefighters. Frozen positions are top priorities for restoration when revenue recovers.

• 13 job cuts in Parks and Recreation, among the 112 positions being eliminated. Voters turned down a parks improvement initiative in March.

• A net decrease of 168 jobs to 4,701. The public safety positions and most other targeted jobs are vacant.

• An estimated 5% decline in sales tax revenue. Dowler labeled the figure "optimistic." Sales tax declined 7.3% in fiscal 2010 during the recession.

• $114.3 million in federal CARES Act pandemic relief and $107 million raised by the 1-cent MAPS 4 sales tax.

The council agreed with City Manager Craig Freeman's request to establish broad categories for disposition of the federal money, with $5 million going to the city's small-business relief fund. That fund began with $5 million in local funding but drew requests totaling more than $20 million.

Tentatively earmarked from the CARES Act is $30 million for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing and $20 million for individual help with expenses such as rent.

Reserved is $59.3 million for city government expenses tied to pandemic response.

The council endorsed Holt's appointments to the MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board, to be chaired by Teresa Rose Crook.

Over the next 10 years, the 11-member board will oversee the work of six advisory committees and make spending recommendations to the city council.

The 16 MAPS 4 projects currently are budgeted at $987 million.

Ward 8 Councilman Mark Stonecipher will be the council's representative on the board.

Others are Brenda Hernández, Russell Pace Jr., Allie Shinn, Harry Black, Shay Morris, Kevin Guarnera, Daisy Muñoz, Monique Bruner and Bob Nelon.

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