Mayor Dewey Bartlett Gives Hope For Avoiding City Layoffs

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said Wednesday morning he's close to having a plan that might avoid all layoffs of city employees. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=11767862">Tulsa City Council Discussing Budget Cuts Tuesday, Talking Public Comment Thursday</a>

Wednesday, January 6th 2010, 12:46 pm

By: News On 6

Mayor Dewey Bartlett Gives Hope For Avoiding City Layoffs

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said Wednesday morning he's close to having a plan that might avoid all layoffs of city employees.

It involves salary cuts for everyone - and would require the approval of the labor unions. Bartlett said he'll have the plan to the unions later this week, and it will include a menu of options possibly including salary cuts, more furlough days and cutbacks in benefits.

Bartlett said, "It is not my desire to call for layoffs, what we are going to do is give the police and fire union and other departments the opportunity, if they agree to some concessions, we believe there is a possibility, a probability that no layoffs will occur."

Mayor Bartlett met with the firefighters union Monday and Tuesday, and meets with the police union Wednesday night.

He said once again he does not believe it's legal or ethical for the city to tap utility accounts to pay salaries.

The City Council continues to explore the possibility of using trash service payments to meet the payroll needs through the end of the fiscal year. The trash service fund has $9.4 million dollars available. The current estimate of the budget gap is $10 million dollars.

The money came from overpayments for trash service, and the account is currently used to subsidize the rates for current customers.

News On 6 Reporter Emory Bryan will have more in the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. And keep check with NewsOn6.com and The News On 6 for the latest updates to the budget picture.