Mayor set to present 'citizens' budget' inspired by survey of Tulsans
By BRIAN BARBER & P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writers
Police and fire academies, increased code enforcement, mowing cycles, and graffiti abatement are all included in what Mayor Dewey Bartlett is calling his "citizens' budget."
Also, city employees would see slight raises, and significant government restructuring would happen under the budget plan that Bartlett is set to present Thursday to the City Council.
"This is a whole new environment," the mayor told the Tulsa World. "Our financial situation a year ago was chaotic, at best. Today's it's much better."
With less volatility, Bartlett said, his administration has the opportunity to be visionary about how Tulsa operates as a city and responds to its residents' needs.
Using a recently released scientific survey of Tulsans as a guide, Bartlett and his team began putting together the budget for the upcoming fiscal year based on what they heard from the public.
"We asked, they spoke, and we listened," said Mayoral Chief of Staff Terry Simonson. "From those many voices, we are presenting a plan of action to keep Tulsa moving forward."
Residents said through the survey that they take special pride in the appearance of Tulsa, Bartlett said.
So the budget proposal includes funding to boost code enforcement, address more dilapidated structures, clean up graffiti and mow the city's rights-of-way more frequently.
