By FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — On Wednesday, Tulsa City councilors voted unanimously to approve the $1.227 billion Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget.
The budget includes a General Fund allocation $445.1 million, which is a 6.1% increase over the previous fiscal year. The General Fund is the primary operating fund for the City and supports core services.
City councilors also approved items related to the surplus in the 2016 Vision Tulsa Economic Development Fund, which includes $103 million in one-time funds and $12 million in annual funds. The City said $35.4 million of that amount is incorporated into the newly approved budget.
“This budget is a reflection of strong collaboration with a continued focus on transparency and public engagement,” said Council Chair Karen Gilbert. “Together, we focused on the priorities that matter most to Tulsans, including strengthening public safety, investing in neighborhoods, addressing homelessness with both immediate and long‑term strategies, and ensuring the City remains on stable financial footing. This budget moves Tulsa forward while maintaining the high level of service our residents expect.”
The City Council reviewed the April 22 proposed budget and made targeted adjustments. Below is a list of some of the key updates:
Homelessness Response
City councilors approved an ordinance that designates $23.5 million in the 2016 Vision Tulsa surplus funds for homelessness response initiative that will be implemented on a multi-year plan. The City Council said the plan intends to appropriate up to $6 million over the next year in quarterly installments for the Safe Move Tulsa initiative and collaborate on standardized reporting and community feedback sessions. City councilors also appropriated $500,000 for low-barrier shelter operations.
Emergency Management
The requested emergency management funding in FY27 was approved by city councilors. Funding for additional FY28 staffing for the new City Emergency Management Office will be addressed after new leadership is established and can present a full operational assessment and recommend funding.
RiverParks Trail Safety
The budget also includes $60,000 for additional Tulsa Police Department overtime to help support enforcement of excessive speeds on shared-use trails.
Tulsa Zoo
To address a shortfall for the African Wilds project, the City will contribute $7.5 million in Improve Our Tulsa I fund balance, which is contingent on the Zoo raising an additional $2.5 million from other sources.
Nuisance Property Remediation
The City Council said it is also adding one-time funding for potential demolition of two chronic nuisance hotel properties if lien recovery is not possible.
Route 66 and Welcome Sign Assets
The approved budget also establishes a maintenance fund with $100,000 in FY27 and FY28 to support ongoing upkeep of these assets and to help evaluate the need for future or larger maintenance funds.
“The budget process does not end with adoption; it continues throughout the year as the City evaluates performance, adjusts for efficiency and responds to changing community needs,” Council Vice Chair Christian Bengel said. “In the coming months, we will also continue work on key areas such as mental health, utility assistance and public safety to ensure every investment delivers meaningful, lasting impact for Tulsa.”
Below is a list of the City Council’s post-budget commitments:
Mental Health
The City will continue to monitor COPES 911 funding and state resources for a potential FY28 service expansion. City councilors also recommend funding the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment team for three years using more than $1 million in opioid settlement funds, pending a separate amendment to the budget and support from other funding partners. The Council’s commitments also include ongoing advocacy for increased state mental health funding.
Families and Public Safety
The City Council said it will continue to monitor the Family Safety Center’s building maintenance requirements as well as maintain current funding for the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth and Families with continued discussions about funding for contracts, positions and direct services.
Utility Assistance
In collaboration with city councilors, the Financial Empowerment Center will develop a Utility Assistance Program using existing resources.
Below is a breakdown of how the $103 million surplus from the Vision Tulsa Economic Development Fund will be utilized in the budget:
Annual funds from the surplus will support Zink Lake operations and Gilcrease Museum operations and improvements.
One-time allocations from the surplus include $25 million for the Public Safety Center, $4.15 million for General Fund economic development incentives, $18.5 million for economic development priorities, $23.5 million for homelessness programs and facilities, and $18.876 million for municipal court/lockup/jail, and arena district improvements.
For FY27, $35.4 million of the surplus will be appropriated to the following:
- Public Safety Center – $25 million
- Homelessness initiatives – $2 million
- Approved economic development incentives – $2 million
- Gilcrease Museum operations – $5 million
- Zink Lake operations – $1.4 million
Some of the other key items in the adopted budget that were previously highlighted in the proposed budget in April include $7 million for fire apparatus and equipment, funding for two police academies, funding for two additional civilian police positions to support digital evidence and records processing, funding for one fire academy, and funding for the creation of the City’s first Office of Emergency Management.
The budget also includes support for Tulsa Animal Services to increase capacity, which the City Council says will improve response times and reduce loose animals. The budget will also support the transition to the new shelter, which is expected to open later this summer. The FY27 budget also includes funding for eight new positions at Tulsa Animal Services, including one animal control officer, an additional veterinarian and six additional operational support staff.
For the Tulsa Municipal Court, the City will begin moving 10 temporary grant-funded positions permanently into the general fund for FY28 following a 10% increase in 2025 in the number of people showing up for their court dates.
The FY27 budget also includes the installation of 1,200 new neighborhood lights in priority areas, $19.5 million for housing initiatives to support affordable housing goals, and continued funding for parks, pools, youth programs, and more.
The City Council said the FY27 budget reduces the City’s reliance on one-time fund balance by $3.8 million, which they says continues the city’s effort to better align ongoing expenses with recurring revenues.
The City Council said that while the 2016 Vision Tulsa funding offsets some costs in the budget, the City froze 45 long-standing vacant positions to reach a balanced budget while maintaining current service levels. The administration also made a commitment to work with the City Council to honor current obligations to City employees now and plan for wage enhancements in the future, according to the City Council.
The FY27 budget also includes utility rate adjustments that the City Council says will “protect the City’s core infrastructure and keep pace withe cost of doing business.” The City Council said the typical residential customer can expect an increase of $5.82 per month, which reflects a 7% increase for water, 4.7% increase for sewer, 7% increase for stormwater, and 4% increase for refuse and recycling.
The approved budget now moves to the mayor’s desk for signing, with FY2026-27 starting July 1.
You can find the final adopted budget by clicking here. For information about the budget process, presentations and City Council discussions, click here.
