After dealing with furloughs in 2020 due to the Chinese coronavirus, about 3,400 city workers will get a 4% bonus at the end of the year because funds from the federal government.

The mayor and city councilors agreed on using American Rescue Plan funding for the one-time retention bonus for all employees except elected officials and employees who haven’t worked for a year at the end of calendar 2021.

Mayor G.T. Bynum said the bonus program was useful in helping retain city employees who might leave for higher pay.

Tulsa has about 200 vacant jobs at this time.

Tulsa will eventually get almost $88 million from the Biden Administration as part of the $1.9 trillion in borrowed federal funds. This particular programs includes $350 billion for cities, counties, states and Indian tribes to compensate for losses incurred during the coronavirus pandemic. The funds are proportional to population.

The federal grants could also go to capital needs within the Tulsa Police and Fire departments.

 Tulsa is spending $6.5 million to assist nonprofits with recovering from the virus. Tulsa has already allocated about $15 million of those federal funds.

Because of the Chinese coronavirus, Tulsa’s revenues dropped considerably as many restaurants closed and retail stores lost sales.

For most of 2020, a number of city employees had their pay cut by 10% as they were furloughed so Tulsa could balance the city budget. Policemen, firefighters and other public safety workers were not subjected to those furloughs.

Discussions are still planned on how to spend the rest of the federal money. Bynum wants some to be used for “economic development.