Tulsa Mayor Not Commenting On Payroll Options For Mayor's Office

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6   

TULSA, OK -- Mayor Dewey Bartlett wouldn't comment Monday on what options he might have to pay his office staff for part of June.

Bartlett said he would wait to discuss the situation with the Tulsa City Council Tuesday morning. Councilors put the item on the agenda for Tuesday, after turning down a $120,000 infusion of payroll money last Thursday.

The city routinely transfers money between departments and the mayor's office budget request was part of a nearly $2 million transfer of surplus money into departments that are short.

5/21/2010 Related Story: Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett Says Department Furloughs Possible

The request for more money in the mayor's department came from city finance, which is balancing out accounts as the fiscal year comes to a close.

The city council approved transfers to other departments for payroll expenses while separating the mayor's request so it could be denied. The council voted unanimously to turn it down.