DALLAS - The president of a Tulsa police association has warned the city council about devoting too much of the city's financial resources to a proposed 12-year, $2 billion street maintenance program.
The council was scheduled to decide last night whether to put onto the November ballot one of three proposals to improve the condition of city streets. A majority of the councilors have indicated they support the $2 billion program, but two less-expensive and shorter plans have been proposed.
In a letter to the nine city councilors, Steve Dickson, president of the Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93, said his members are concerned that the $2 billion option would require all the proceeds from city general obligation bond sales through 2022, and most of the other revenue that currently funds city capital programs.
The $2 billion street package would be financed in part with approximately $770 million of general obligation bonds supported by gradual increases in the city's property tax rate, and the extension and re-direction of some existing sales taxes that fund countywide projects.
In addition to the GO bonds, the plan calls for extending until 2021 a combined 1.76% sales tax that includes the city's third-penny 1% sales tax set to expire in early 2013, Tulsa County's 0.0167% Four-To-Fix II sales tax that will expire in 2012, and the countywide 0.6% Vision 2025 sales taxes scheduled to expire at the end of 2016.
"Our concern is that by tying up four funding streams, the city may limit their ability to respond to potential needs such as emergency situations," Dickson said.
"We would urge you as a council, to slow down and observe the warning lights in front of you," he said in the letter. "It is your responsibility to carefully consider the broader needs of the city before you put forward a street plan that could cause a long-term negative impact on other city services such as public safety."
Tulsa currently finances police and fire facilities with GO bond proceeds, but the $2 billion street effort would require almost all those proceeds for the next 12 years. The $2 billion option includes $281 million for capital needs, but no public safety projects.
Tulsa voters approved a $250 million GO bond program in 2005 that included $154.4 million for streets, but also $19.5 million for new fire stations and $5.1 million for police facilities.
Crime in the city is down, Dickson said, but that progress could be endangered if the police department's funding is cut back.
"Over the next few years, our officers will be asked to do more than ever before to maintain public safety," Dickson said. "And while we cannot forecast exactly what those needs may entail, our concern is that the $2 billion plan being discussed will tie the hands of present and future mayors and councils to respond to the growing needs of the city or an unforeseen emergency."
Councilor Bill Christiansen has proposed a five-year, $270 million plan that concentrates on street widening projects. Christiansen's plan would require $160 million of GO bonds. Mayor Kathy Taylor had endorsed the $2 billion program, but last week offered as a compromise a five-year, $451.6 million street maintenance effort financed in part with $258 million of GO bonds.
The 12-year plan was developed by the council's street subcommittee, chaired by Councilor Bill Martinson.
The city's GO debt is rated Aa2 by Moody's Investors Service and AA by Standard & Poor's.
