The Tulsa City Council unanimously approved Mayor G.T. Bynum’s 2022 fiscal year budget that totals almost $800 million.
The budget is $799,400,000.00, which is about 5% lower than the previous budget. It is almost identical to the budget Bynum proposed in April.
Sewer and water utility rates will increase by 3%.
Some employees will get raises in the new budget.
The police and fire departments will get about $200 million, including funds for two police academies (with 45 cadets) and a firefighter academy (25 firefighters).
The police budget is up one-tenth of 1% while the firefighter budget is down slightly (two-tenths of 1%).
Public Works and Transportation departments get 37% ($293 million) while Public Safety gets 29% ($227 million).
Administration costs are 17% ($137 million) of the new budget while debt service is 11% ($88 million).
“Culture and recreation” accounts for about 3% ($27 million) while “social and economic development” is 3% ($21 million).
The budget projects that city sales tax revenues will increase by 5.6% to $154 million in the upcoming fiscal year.
Use tax is expected to decline a bit to $42.5 million following an increase in the last fiscal year.