Oklahoma City approves $1.9 billion budget, includes new fire department transport program
The Oklahoma City Council passed a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, rolling in at $1.9 billion.
The fiscal year 2024 budget, effective July 1 through June 30, 2024, is a 1.8% increase over the fiscal year 2023 budget. It will fund 119 more city positions than last year and will support Oklahoma City's new homelessness initiative with $2 million in funding.
The council's approval, in a 7-to-2 vote, didn't come without its critiques. Councilor James Cooper asked when the city would see more implementation of police reform recommendations the council received more than a year ago. Councilor JoBeth Hamon said she wants to see more investment in crime prevention rather than reaction.
Councilor Nikki Nice said she is disappointed that requests she made last year still have not come about, like setting aside funds for each ward to address specific needs important to residents.
More: OKC's 'snapshot' of homeless shows efforts are working, agencies say, but more to come
City Manager Craig Freeman said some next steps in implementing task force recommendations include completing a website with information for residents, establishing an advisory board, crisis intervention committee and drafting a request for proposals for a non-police response to mental health calls. The city has already begun funding a non-police response to 911 calls involving Oklahoma City's homeless.
"I know there are concerns in different areas but I really appreciate (the budget director's) leadership and his team and all of the departments that participate in this," Freeman said. "It's a work of everyone getting involved."
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OKC fire and police departments to add positions under new budget
A major chunk, 61%, of the city's $601 million general fund expenditures goes to public safety.
The fire department will add the most new positions this year, with the new budget allocating funds for six additional firefighters, four logistics positions and 40 positions for a supplemental medical transport program in collaboration with EMSA to improve emergency response times.
"This is a partnership, not a competition," said Fire Chief Richard Kelley in a May presentation regarding the program. "We're really focused on how do we serve our residents ... The priority in that is to supplement services to EMSA and really effectively provide those services in tough-to-reach areas."
More: Gov. Stitt ends homeless council as Oklahoma remains bottom 10 for affordable housing
Meanwhile, 14 civilian positions have been added to the police department's budget:
one crisis intervention team coordinator
three DNA forensic scientists
two computer forensic investigative specialists
one senior buyer
one financial services manager
two community relations coordinators
two digital media positions
two administrative positions
The police budget also includes $1.1 million for a "real-time information center," which along with the digital media positions has drawn criticism from Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon.
"If we really were concerned about addressing criminal activity, we wouldn't just be investing in more surveillance of people to catch people when it happens," Hamon said. "Or to post mug shots or videos of people on social media with a whimsical text about how here's another theft for you all to find out who this is."
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City Council approves $1.9 billion budget
