'Difficult Budget Season' Prompts Tulsa Mayor To Issue Hiring Freeze

Stating it's a “difficult budget season,” Tulsa’s mayor sent an email to employees announcing an immediate hiring freeze.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said planning and preparing for potential scenarios has to start now rather than ignoring possibilities and not be prepared for the future.

In addition to the hiring freeze, the emails states the Bartlett has asked department heads to look at additional reduction in expenditures for the remainder of the current fiscal year.

Bartlett encouraged that we have been down this road before and that, together, well will prevail.

The full email reads:

“As you know, state law mandates that sales tax collections must serve as our main and sole source for revenue,” Bartlett said. “When you couple that with increased Internet sales, on which sales taxes are not collected, we must continue our efforts to offset operational expenses.”

“In an effort to get out in front of a difficult budget season and reduce expenses in the current year, I have instructed our team to start a hiring freeze immediately in the general fund departments. I also have asked Department heads to take a look at additional reductions in expenditures for the remainder of the current fiscal year.

“We must begin planning and preparing for potential scenarios now, rather than ignore possibilities and be ill-prepared down the road. As you know, state law mandates that sales tax collections must serve as our main and sole source for revenue. When you couple that with increased internet sales, on which sales taxes are not collected, we must continue our efforts to offset operational expenses.

“We have been down this road before, and together with your support, we will weather this storm again.

“Thank you for your service to the City of Tulsa. We will keep you informed as more information becomes available and as budgets and revenue predictions are analyzed and revised."

Sincerely,
Dewey F. Bartlett Jr.
Mayor