OKC Sees Tiny Budget Bump

Oklahoma City officials unveiled a $788.7 million budget for fiscal 2009 that they said will limit the city’s ability to upgrade municipal services.

The outline by budget director Craig Freeman included a general fund budget of $348.6 million, which is only 1.3% higher than in fiscal 2008.

The double-A-plus rated city said higher energy prices mean an additional $2.1 million in fuel costs for the transit department, $518,000 for the utility department, and $290,000 for the police department.

The budget includes 31 new positions, including six new employees in the utilities department to handle a maintenance backlog in the deteriorating sewer system. The public works department will hire two new employees to oversee projects funded by the $835.5 million of general obligation bonds approved by voters in December 2007.

A final vote on next year’s budget by the City Council is set for June 10. Fiscal 2009 will begin July 1.

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