Dec. 13-- Tulsa's firefighter union president Wednesday called Mayor Dewey Bartlett "short sighted" for being unwilling to consider a dedicated public safety tax.
Exploring the possibility of such a tax to help fund increased police, fire and 911 manpower was recommended last week by the city's citizen-led Public Safety Task Force established by the mayor and City Council.
By rejecting the recommendation, Bartlett "is choosing to ignore their hard work and take a path that leads in the wrong direction," Tulsa Firefighters Local 176 President Chad Miller said.
Bartlett earlier this week told the Tulsa World he wasn't interested at looking at a dedicated public safety tax right now.
"I'd feel much more comfortable looking at efficiencies that can be made, resource allocations and slowly growing our manpower as we can afford to do so," the mayor said.
The city's public safety staffing, with regular academies, is improving, he said, "but in a reasonable and methodical manner."
But Miller said a dedicated tax would allow Tulsa to maintain proper staffing and resources and avoid the need for drastic cuts when sales-tax revenues decline.
"Like firefighters, the Public Safety Task Force understands that strong public safety is an investment in Tulsa," he said.
"Strong public safety doesn't just make those who live and work here safer, it makes Tulsa a better place to do business and promotes economic development."
Miller urged the mayor to reconsider his position.
The task force noted in its presentation last week that manpower levels need to be increased to meet the national average for a city of this size.
Tulsa has 780 police officers and needs 830, has 676 firefighters and needs 824 and has 98 emergency operators but needs 130, according to its report.
Brian Barber 918-581-8322
Copyright 2012 - Tulsa World, Okla.
