Tulsa Business Staff
2/5/2010
When Mayor Dewey Bartlett took office in December, the City of Tulsa sales tax revenues were in a historic decline, and it was apparent that expenses needed to be reduced in the general fund to balance the budget. Bartlett said all departments should share in the cuts, including the mayor’s office. Shortly after taking office, Bartlett and his staff began reviewing expenses that could be reduced. Two staff members who worked with the Taylor Administration left the City’s employment when Bartlett brought in his own staff. The mayor is permitted to hire 16. While knowing a 4.4 percent reduction would need to be made, Bartlett chose to leave four at-will (appointed) positions open. In addition, office supplies and other expenses reduced the mayor’s budget by an additional 6.5 percent. Bartlett has agreed to take an 8.5-percent personal salary reduction, and Terry Simonson, chief of staff, has agreed to a 5-percent personal salary reduction as well. Other members of the staff are not obligated to take a salary reduction but would have taken pay cuts if the AFSCME union had voted to take salary reductions instead of layoffs.
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