The Oklahoma City Council on Tuesday signed off on a $2.12 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027, locking in a spending plan that city leaders say trims costs without gutting core services. The measure kicks in on July 1 and keeps the operating budget at about $979 million, funding roughly 5,089 full-time positions, which is one fewer than the current year.
According to News 9, the package represents an overall increase of roughly 3 percent from the prior year and cleared the Council on Tuesday night. Council members said they tried to thread the needle with modest across-the-board reductions paired with targeted investments so they would not have to pull the plug on key services.
Budget basics and headcount
The city's budget documents put the operating budget, which covers day-to-day services such as police, fire and parks, at $979 million, while total all-funds spending reaches $2.12 billion, according to the City of OKC. The plan funds 5,089 full-time positions, a net loss of one role from the current fiscal year, and tells Police and Fire to come up with about 1.4 percent reductions while most other departments trim roughly 2.4 percent. In a statement on the city's website, City Manager Craig Freeman said, "Our primary focus is, and always will be, delivering high-quality services to our residents."
Public safety and departmental changes
As reported by Oklahoma City Free Press, the Police Department will keep 20 uniformed positions frozen and cut one civilian support job, while the Fire Department will drop six corporal posts but add funding for a new wellness program. The Free Press also notes that Parks & Recreation will cut six positions and Utilities will add several jobs, while Public Works picked up two positions to get ready for an upcoming GO bond sale. Officials described those shifts as tough but necessary in light of sluggish sales tax growth, which remains the city's largest revenue source.
The council's vote wraps up the FY27 budget process and moves departments into implementation mode ahead of the July 1 start date. City leaders and budget staff said they will keep a close eye on revenue trends and could return to the council for adjustments if collections do not pick up.
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