EDITOR'S NOTE:  The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission contributed $10,000 toward a water quality monitoring site on Tahlequah Creek, a tributary of the Illinois River.  Save the Illinois River will soon announce a cooperative venture with Tahlequah's stormwater management program.

Tahlequah Daily Press

Published May 23, 2008 11:36 am -

Council gets look at new budget


By BOB GIBBINS

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS —

Tahlequah’s proposed 2008-’09 budget includes creation of a new position and full implementation of a salary and employee classification plan.

Mayor Ken Purdy announced details of the $14.1 million budget during a special city council meeting Thursday night.

Copies of the document were made available to the councilors, and Purdy said they will be available to department heads and the public today at City Hall.

Purdy said a stormwater program manager position is being created in light of the unfunded mandate by the state and federal governments for the city to develop a program. A new chapter of city code was adopted by the council later in the meeting concerning stormwater management.

The mayor of the fourth-fastest growing city in the state said Tahlequah has experienced “an unrivaled level of growth,” but is “not immune to the recession currently facing the state and nation.”

The proposed budget includes a 3 percent reduction in anticipated sales tax revenue. It has a general fund of $9.1 million and total appropriations of $14,121,868. Purdy said $1.3 million will pass through the city’s half cent sales tax, which is earmarked for Tahlequah Public Schools.

He told the council and members of the public attending the meeting the salary and classification plan will cost $71,500 to implement.

The proposal also calls for most full-time employees to receive a $700 annual salary increase, and hourly workers will receive an increase of 25 cents.