Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett Salary Donation Ready for Approval

By Emory Bryan, The News on 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett's long promised salary reduction is due to take effect once the City Council approves the paperwork. It's on the agenda for Thursday night.

The mayor promised to take a pay cut in line with the reduction for firefighters, who took the pay cuts to avoid layoffs. Other city unionized workers, including police officers, rejected the salary cuts and the city laid off employees instead.

See Dewey Bartlett's Donation Request

Because Bartlett was elected, and his salary is set by the charter, his pay is not subject to the same cuts as other city employees. As a result, Bartlett is making a cash donation of the amount the reduction would be. He will collect the normal salary, but donate part of it back to the city.

Bartlett's donation is $3718, reflecting the equivalent of a salary reduction from February 1 - June 30th. The city starts a new budget year July 1, and city employee wages and staffing will be determined by what is approved in the budget.