Here is something interesting to watch!

YouTube - MAPS 3 - REMIX Of Proposed Cuts To OCPD Staff / www.okcissues.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGm6RSSwtrs)

Junkie, I would like to see you answers about the management questions.

Here is something interesting to watch!
...

Perhaps more interesting to watch, perhaps not. I imagine it turns on whether one prefers news or opinion remixes. To each their own in that regard.

YouTube - MAPS 3 - 12% Budget Cuts Called A Mythical Situation / www.okcissues.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cymvL3S48c)

I think that's was the beginning of the backing up on asking for 12%.The first offer from the city was to cut $9,000,000.00 in labor costs. That is hard to justify when the budget is only down 6.3%. what about the 80-90 million in reserves?

I think that's was the beginning of the backing up on asking for 12%.The first offer from the city was to cut $9,000,000.00 in labor costs. That is hard to justify when the budget is only down 6.3%. what about the 80-90 million in reserves?

Not certain I'd agree with the characterization as a backing up, but again, to each their own perspective.

As to the reserves:

What level should exist, and how does that level compare to existing reserves?

What consequences arise for the city, bondholders, etc. if existing reserve funds are reduced 10%, 15%, 20%?

Assuming a reduction has no bad consequences and can be achieved, what is the best use of formerly reserve funds once these are made available - one time capital expenditures or temporary offset of existing personnel expenses?

If capital expenditures, what are the greatest priorities for the funds - equipment rehabilitation or equipment replacement, first time ever equipment items previously deferred?

If funds formerly in reserve accounts are used for personnel, what is the advance plan to continue such personnel after those funds are exhausted?

If funds removed from reserve funds are pulled as a temporary means of funding, what is the advance plan to restore the funds in order to maintain an appropriate level of reserve funds?

What are the other questions not included above but which should be in order to make a rational determination of whether, and if so, by how much, can the city realistically pull from the reserve funds?

Just asking questions, not wagging fingers or wringing hands. Maybe it's far less complex than it seems to me. Hopefully, that will become clearer to me as others also participate.

Kevinpate, you do a lot of thinking. I do not have all of those answers. My point was they asked for 12% initially and at their first stab at bargaining it was about 6%. I dont know how much money needs to sit in the bank while people lose their jobs. What kind of rate is that 80-90 million dollars earning? We already know they have postponed ladder replacements to the point that we only have 6 in operating service.

It is really hard for me to not rely on what was said during the recent campaign for growth. Some were blinded by the idea of becoming this Las Vegas type of entertainment capitol of the plains. So much that they refused to see the needs in essential services.

Originally Posted by rcjunkie
Several Arizona City's have privatized their Fire and Police Departments, this move has saved them several millions over the past 4--5 years, maybe OKC should look into this.


Please provide more info. What citys specifically? Not that I don't believe you, but this idea has been floating around for at least 25 years that I know of. If it really saved money and provided an acceptable level of service don't you think it would be more prevalent?

Waiting, waiting..........

Originally Posted by rcjunkie
Several Arizona City's have privatized their Fire and Police Departments, this move has saved them several millions over the past 4--5 years, maybe OKC should look into this.

Waiting, waiting..........

OK, I'll bite but I am mainly making an observation. OKC privatized ambulance service years ago (or it was never public, not sure). It has never been exactly financially sound from what I've seen. I think its now merged with the Tulsa ambulance service and again, just seems to exist - perhaps surviving on a thread?

If what I say is reasonably accurate, wny would we want to privatize fire and police? It doesn't seem to work very well.

OK, I'll bite but I am mainly making an observation. OKC privatized ambulance service years ago (or it was never public, not sure). It has never been exactly financially sound from what I've seen. I think its now merged with the Tulsa ambulance service and again, just seems to exist - perhaps surviving on a thread?

If what I say is reasonably accurate, wny would we want to privatize fire and police? It doesn't seem to work very well.

You are accurate, you wouldn't want to do it, and judging by his response, he knows it also.

You are accurate, you wouldn't want to do it, and judging by his response, he knows it also.

I think it's worth looking at every Government function to see if it's feasible/cost saving to privatize: Police, Fire, Park Maintenance, Sanitation, Street Maintenance, Water Dept., etc:. Maybe not all functions of said departments, but some areas like equipment mantenance, building maintenance.

OK, I'll bite but I am mainly making an observation. OKC privatized ambulance service years ago (or it was never public, not sure). It has never been exactly financially sound from what I've seen. I think its now merged with the Tulsa ambulance service and again, just seems to exist - perhaps surviving on a thread?

If what I say is reasonably accurate, wny would we want to privatize fire and police? It doesn't seem to work very well.The E.M.S.A. is a public trust, that uses public funds, to pay big salaries to trust employees, to oversee a private "not for profit" company, who makes a hefty sum of money for its owners.

I think it's worth looking at every Government function to see if it's feasible/cost saving to privatize: Police, Fire, Park Maintenance, Sanitation, Street Maintenance, Water Dept., etc:. Maybe not all functions of said departments, but some areas like equipment mantenance, building maintenance.

I agree that there are some areas that could be looked at, rig and building maint., etc. but that's not what your post said. I apologize if I misread it. I'll say this though, the biggest problem with FD rig maint. is that you have too few mechanics being asked to do more work than they have hours in the day for. I'm not sure how that would change with privatization.

Like I said, I first heard the idea of privatizing the FD back in the early 80's when I worked for one of the smaller metropolitan deptartments. The city manager threw it out at negotiation time every year. Apparently there were some towns being used by OMA to trial balloon the idea back then. If it really worked, the way they wanted it to, I'm sure we would have seen more of it by now.

3 rescued in fire at northwest Oklahoma City apartment complex
BY ROBERT MEDLEY 3 Comments
Published: April 21, 2010

Three people on balconies of a burning apartment building were rescued by firefighters this morning at Elm Creek Apartments, 4201 N Youngs Blvd.
Those rescued were upstairs facing west on the north side of Interstate 44 behind an office building.


The first responding engine company to this incident is station 11 and is due to be closed in the proposed budget cuts.

Re: Council resolution to accept 5% paycut
An update, currently as of today the city has lowered the amount that was going to be cut from the fire department budget from $9,000,000.00 to 2,850,000.00. This is better news, we still are hoping that sales tax reciepts continue to rise.