Tulsa City Council Talks Budget With Fire, Police Chiefs

The heads of the Tulsa Police and Fire departments are telling city councilors Thursday they could do much more with a little more money. 

Both departments are working under the strain of having fewer employees now than they did a decade ago and both want more people first, then some more technology. 

The Tulsa city council is looking into it as a part of the regular city budget and the expectation of a public safety tax going before voters in the fall. 

Councilors called in the police and fire chiefs to ask how they would spend extra money, especially on things to make the departments more efficient. 

"And for use it comes down to manpower. We're at the lowest levels in years and so when you can add a few more firefighters to every truck, you can do more at the fire scene, wrap things up faster, do EMS better and have more people on the patients," said Tulsa Fire Chief Ray Driskell. 

The fire chief wants to establish a new station in east Tulsa, while the police chief wants to add officers to fill out their beats. Both believe having more people would make a huge difference in efficiency, just by cutting overtime expenses.

News On 6 reporter Emory Bryan attended the meetings at city hall Thursday and will have an update in the 5 p.m. newscast.