City's 53 budget amendments part of cost-cutting action

Feb. 2—McAlester City Manager David Andren has made 53 budget amendments, enacted after city of McAlester sales tax revenues came in at less than the budgeted amounts.

Andren included the budget amendments, which included a number of cuts in some city departments, as part of his Mid-Year Budget Review. It's complied for the middle of the current fiscal year, which began July 1, 2023 and extends through June 30, 2024.

Andren said by enacting cost-cutting measures, no city of McAlester employees will have to be furloughed or laid off from their jobs during the current fiscal year.

Issues arose after city revenues came in lower than budgeted, although Mayor John Browne said the city is on-track to have its second best year ever, based on sales tax revenues.

Total amount of reductions through the budget amendments amounted to $440,000. That's in addition to approximately $600,000 that's already been saved due to reduced spending, Andren said.

While areas in some departments were cut, others received additions, resulting in $440,000 less in the budget for the remainder of the fiscal year when all of the tallies were complete.

The budget amendments were compiled and presented to city councilors by city of McAlester Finance Director Sherri Swift during their last regular meeting in January, with city councilors approving the amendments.

Andren started at the top, cutting $100,000 from the full-time payroll in the city manager's department.

With the $100,000 cut, the full-time payroll in the city manager's department dropped from $263,766 to $163,766.

Changes in the amount budgeted to the McAlester Fire Department resulted in two increases.

Andren added another $40,000 to MFD overtime payroll, bringing the total up to $145,000.

He also added another $60,000 to the MFD severance pay budget, increasing the total to $110,000.

Anden also completely eliminated or reduced the amount of the clothing allowance in a number of city departments, beginning with eliminating the $375 clothing allowance in the City Manager's Department.

Other departments or areas where the clothing allowance was either eliminated or reduced and the amount of the cuts include:

—Finance — $625 clothing allowance cut to zero.

—City clerk — $250 clothing allowance reduced to zero.

—Municipal Court — $375 clothing allowance cut to zero.

—IT — $250 clothing allowance reduced to zero.

—Animal Control — $250 clothing allowance cut by $88, down to $162.

—Communications — $500 clothing allowance reduced to zero.

—Parks — $2,875 clothing allowance cut by $370 down to $2,505.

—Recreation — $1,125 clothing allowance reduced by $420 to $705.

—Planning and Community Development — $1,375 clothing allowance cut by $1,0125, down to $360.

—Human Resources — $5,000 clothing allowance reduced to zero.

—Streets Department — $4,250 clothing allowance cut by $691 to $3,559.

More savings were gained either through eliminating or reducing the amounts budgeted for the remainder of the fiscal year for Employee Travel and Training.

City departments or areas with reduction or elimination of Employee Travel and Training and the amount of the cuts include:

—Finance — $5,000 reduced by $2,000 down to $3,000.

—City Clerk — $2,100 cut by $800 down to $1,300.

—Municipal Court — $1,500 reduced by $1,465, down to $35.

—IT — $3,500 cut by $3,500 down to zero.

—Patrol — $9,000 reduced by $4,000 down to $5,000.

—Communications — $1,000 cut by $520, down to $480.

—Parks — $4,000 reduced by $1,1187 down to $2,813.

—Facility Maintenance — $3,000 cut by $2,524 down to $476.

—Planning and Community Development — $4,000 reduced by $850 down to $3,150.

—Human Resources — $1,500 cut by $1,150 down to $350.

—Streets — $500 reduced by $500, down to zero.

Editor's note: Additional mid-year budget amendments will be covered in a future News-Capital article.