[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6314611,"mediaKeyId","2383167-8cdcb3ca33fe5c74cbdcea3a2c7b08c8","parentId",2383167,"title","Council to review NEDC contract and audit records amid questions about advocacy and transparency","audioSeconds",67,"startMs",2871870,"endMs",2939149,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2383167-8cdcb3ca33fe5c74cbdcea3a2c7b08c8&start=2871&end=2939","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2383167-8cdcb3ca33fe5c74cbdcea3a2c7b08c8/thumbnail_2871870.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6314611/Norman/Cleveland-County/Oklahoma/Council-to-review-NEDC-contract-and-audit-records-amid-questions-about-advocacy-and-transparency","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314611-b5877ff64c6268c52d5d19b97bdaca11/orig.mp4?Expires=1775244338&Signature=o1RdM5hyGoGxrVk6L5A160Dha9aLvfDuecNZ-8wb9KKVXP1-a5giRa6ZEK1r5ZzPPIJCppp5x76mdqfeLRPatun3L3-CLWfCwWcbgMf9m1cNlTJQZEgDzzSOvZtjnLY1UJUa2YxgyecU8tyMWbyS-J3aRopo9Rm-YYSrr-FyqUtw~iRetF5eqAiYkHHFIBfkFMNXmSdgu-XHJ5uQFn433w5Hcl1rBBzqVS3IXt-~spkGsAmYeplUUq4c3QOrYw5jJLB~qntN5IHEk9LFiH8gpGAtFxRb2mVBlRWSmLgSIaJLQHpGQZjCI~k-rJfrSYVoyWSAdlCggsn3N93UU~Zqsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Norman, OK","date","2025-02-21T11:50:54Z","article","Council members discussed the Norman Economic Development Coalition (NEDC) contract, its upcoming strategic plan and recent audit delays at the City Council Finance Committee meeting on Feb. 20.

City staff told the committee the regional economic development group will present a new funding formula — described as a per‑capita contribution that would include additional Cleveland County communities — and that the coalition’s contract will come to council for consideration as a separate agenda item. Staff said they do not anticipate changes to the contractual requirement that NEDC provide audited financial statements; the coalition has engaged a new CPA firm and expects audits for 2022–2024 to be completed in the coming months.

Why it matters: The contract governs how the city contributes to regional economic development efforts. Council members expressed concern about transparency for public dollars and whether any advocacy activities could cross legal lines that would make the organization ineligible for public funding.

Key points from the discussion:
- Audits and timing: Staff reported NEDC hired a new CPA firm; the firm finished 2022 work and expected 2023 and 2024 reports to be completed in March and June respectively. A council member noted that the city has not received audited financial statements from NEDC since February 2021.
- Single audit and ARPA: Staff said NEDC reported ARPA‑funded activity (a Main Street incubator acquisition) that will be included in the coalition’s single audit for 2024. Councilors asked about status of any single‑audit reporting tied to federal funds.
- Political‑activity concern: Councilor Nash and others raised the question of whether the coalition’s activities — including state lobbying around ARPA funding in earlier years — could constitute political advocacy that would affect the city’s ability to fund the organization. Staff said they will have “Mister Knighton” review the contract language and any legal limits before returning the item to council; the committee asked staff to confirm compliance with applicable federal and state rules, including IRS guidance about nonprofit political activity.
- Transparency and funding sources: Council members discussed the coalition’s private fundraising arm (senior centurion donors) and requested the coalition’s audited statements so the city can track which activities were funded with public dollars versus private contributions. A council member asked whether student participation in a public meeting was paid for and whether those funds came from public or private sources; staff said the city did not pay students and that a contractor associated with NEDC had organized student attendance.

Ending: The committee did not act on the NEDC contract at the meeting; staff said the coalition’s contract and audit documents will be brought forward separately and legal staff will review questions about advocacy and funding before council action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee, 2/20/25","oneSentenceSummary","Council members discussed the Norman Economic Development Coalition (NEDC) contract, its upcoming strategic plan and recent audit delays at the City Council Finance Committee meeting on Feb. 20.","taxTitle","Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma","taxId",2684,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6314614,"Norman finance committee hears nonprofit requests as city braces for tight budget",135,59947,195649,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2383167-8cdcb3ca33fe5c74cbdcea3a2c7b08c8&start=59&end=195","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2383167-8cdcb3ca33fe5c74cbdcea3a2c7b08c8/thumbnail_59947.jpg","/articles/6314614/Norman/Cleveland-County/Oklahoma/Norman-finance-committee-hears-nonprofit-requests-as-city-braces-for-tight-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314614-3771ea5d3c17848df0d6606f01b3ddd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775244338&Signature=f5v0afkitRDes5PbrBhyFrz-mEDTrZ74frU2o5rhxs-Uuw3U6Nm13sI47fZ2WxvkImFDu4AiT8yjOpPrk-T3-6f1e~1spt6LfdHWJpWJbIkRniqil38EK~pxOztdGVNbstbLZrmg-rtDzCbr~u0xABI~tgS1dZcOD92qs~FeW-tj1Xi4gPPuQwYJMXSxhfNc-32jEUn6X-jglZwJNl6hwCbNkioc02ecylUIRtHdewEjoRmangafVAviIfalL5tBWDMQCfBiITWIg~O7XJTblLWiaLWZ0-ZXb1ZpCnlYUIe9HGFu601hPrhTXBJXFdHAER~oGSKMNZwiIE1oOL0Axg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of five local arts and human‑service organizations asked the City Council Finance Committee on Feb. 20 to increase general‑fund support for fiscal year 2026 while staff warned the city’s overall budget outlook is constrained.

Finance Director (unnamed) told the committee that the packet shows “what is the request for fiscal year 26 from each of the agencies,” and emphasized these are requests for additional general‑fund appropriations on top of other revenue sources such as United Way or road tax. The director and Councilman O’Brien both flagged an uncertain outlook: O’Brien said “the outlook for the city budget over the next 5 years is kinda stagnant.”

Why it matters: Norman’s general fund faces competing pressures from city operations and outside agencies that the council supports by special appropriation. Committee members were asked to flag which requests they want included in the city manager’s proposed budget; staff said final allocations will be decided by the full council in the budget process that continues through June.

Details of the requests presented:
- Social and Voluntary Services Committee (SVSC): Greg, Planning Department staff, said SVSC administers a competitive process that caps individual awards at $10,000 per applicant. The committee is asking the council to consider a $25,000 increase to its fund (from $250,000 to $275,000), a roughly 10% increase; Greg noted the SVSC budget has grown over about a decade from $50,000 to its current level.
- Firehouse Arts Center: a Firehouse representative said the organization has expanded programming and usage and has increased its operating budget to about $700,000; they requested an additional increase (presented as about a 25% increase versus current funding levels) to support classes, outreach and a partnership with Norman Public Schools called Art Sparks.
- Performing Arts Studio / The Depot: Sherry Jackson, executive director, described the Depot’s role operating a year‑round Amtrak waiting room and supporting gallery and programming. Jackson said the depot’s operational cost estimate for the Amtrak‑related staffing, cleaning and supplies is about $50,000 annually, and she requested a $5,000 increase (to about $55,000) to cover those ongoing costs.
- Cleveland County Historical Museum: museum staff requested about a $5,500 increase, described in the packet as roughly a 20% increase over current general‑fund support.
- Norman Music Festival: the Norman Music Alliance’s executive director, Sherry (last name not provided in the packet), requested an increase from $10,000 in the current fiscal year to $50,000 for FY26 (a roughly 400% increase). She said the festival draws tens of thousands of attendees — “we figure around 70,000 people who come multiple times over the weekend over 3 days” — and described the requested funds as support for logistical “container” costs (fencing, portable toilets, private security and contractual staffing) rather than artist fees or production costs. She said about $27,000 of the $50,000 request would cover private security and roughly $22,000 would assist with staffing and other logistics; the festival’s total budget is about $280,000.

Committee members asked about specifics: Council member Ramesh asked whether the festival request included marketing; the music alliance said its marketing budget has historically been $0 and that any new funding could be earmarked for targeted advertising to nearby markets. Council members also pressed the organizations on contingency plans if city funding is not increased.

The finance director closed the discussion by reminding the committee that the city’s projected outlook may limit the availability of increases: “there may not be any increases, potentially in this budget,” and council members were asked to advise staff whether to include any of the requests in the manager’s proposed budget.

Ending: The committee did not take a formal vote on any of the requests; members will decide during the budget review process whether to recommend increases when the city manager releases the proposed FY26 budget.","Representatives from the Social and Voluntary Services Committee, Firehouse Arts Center, the Depot (Performing Arts Studio), Cleveland County Historical Museum and the Norman Music Festival asked the City Council Finance Committee for increased FY26 general‑fund support while city staff warned of a constrained five‑year revenue outlook.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6314600,"City auditor releases triennial audit plan, flags P‑card, payroll and overtime risks",436,4581115,5017659,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2383167-8cdcb3ca33fe5c74cbdcea3a2c7b08c8&start=4581&end=5017","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2383167-8cdcb3ca33fe5c74cbdcea3a2c7b08c8/thumbnail_4581115.jpg","/articles/6314600/Norman/Cleveland-County/Oklahoma/City-auditor-releases-triennial-audit-plan-flags-Pcard-payroll-and-overtime-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314600-eaeb6eb34c669f73ac8ed8a412215115/orig.mp4?Expires=1775244338&Signature=P6w4D0OKJwD96Zvel7qbXAyVQEaHk-sJo3RX9eklNRWmtxFWmba9Rqz6ftSEb2B-CVkc977O9dkiSIqO49wZpUOEOsMSsXSSmlzl4ehlpyK18TqPBRxjo9z1YIgxz9-WUtiqy-fgJ9eIfmuUROIbXsSCIwYBEo64TneN0~gnZx22NEnJvDIVw0t8PB6FpEr3b1d~gvpwHWugcS-aufuH0w8zt6w3EO2P~gMRGCpl-OLur9NpRtbJ0B1KG~aWgHKK8ka~gwT7fZY4xmp6Kq~GAmoVcGUWFdprGCx5vJRoWhUFu2-N03xDAs3STxzNsHri2oGwpCPmfPeEfWiSc5M-WQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Auditor Shakir Kalanick presented a draft triennial audit plan to the Finance Committee on Feb. 20 that lays out top‑risk areas for fiscal years 2025–2027 and requests additional resources to expand audit coverage.

Kalanick said the office performed a risk assessment across 13 departments and identified credit‑card controls (P‑card program), payroll/timekeeping integration, overtime budgeting, human resources policy compliance and the relatively new recycling program among the top risks. Kalanick said the office is currently one person and is “capped at 6 audits in 3 years,” a staffing level he described as insufficient to meet the city’s audit needs. He asked council to consider adding at least one auditor to increase capacity.

Why it matters: The audit plan identifies operational risks that can lead to financial loss, fraud or budgetary strain. The auditor emphasized proactive controls, recommended a comprehensive P‑card policy, and proposed investments in case‑management and continuous‑monitoring software to detect anomalies more quickly.

Key details presented:
- P‑card/credit‑card usage: Kalanick said more than 50 credit cards are issued across city departments without a single, comprehensive P‑card program and recommended identifying single owners for issued cards and implementing unified procedures and monitoring. He noted this is “low‑hanging audit fruit.”
- Payroll/timekeeping: The auditor flagged a manual data‑transfer step between timekeeping and payroll systems that raises the risk of error or misuse and recommended increased automation to reduce that risk.
- Overtime: Kalanick said four departments accounted for an overtime deficit of about $3,370,000 from 2022–2024 and identified overtime cost control and budget impact as an audit priority.
- Human resources: Kalanick recommended citywide implementation of ethics, harassment prevention, unconscious bias and OSHA training; he said current social and cultural programming attendance averages about 25% of invitees.
- Capacity and tools: The auditor requested additional staff, the ability to hire subject‑matter specialists for investigations, implementation of case‑management software and deployment of continuous monitoring/analytics tools tied to the city’s ERP system.

Kalanick also provided an anonymous reporting hotline (partner firm): (866) 912‑5378 and described the office’s plan to present an updated internal audit charter and to schedule an overtime audit in the next month.

Ending: The committee heard the draft plan and invited feedback; Kalanick said he will return a final plan for adoption after incorporating committee input and confirming staffing and software budget requests.","City Auditor Shakir Kalanick presented a triennial audit plan covering FY25–FY27 that prioritizes credit‑card (P‑card) controls, payroll/timekeeping integration and overtime spending. The auditor said the office is a single‑person unit and requested additional staffing and continuous‑monitoring tools to expand audit capacity.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6314605,"February sales tax down 5%; finance staff warn of constrained budget runway",197,4051385,4249315,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2383167-8cdcb3ca33fe5c74cbdcea3a2c7b08c8&start=4051&end=4249","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2383167-8cdcb3ca33fe5c74cbdcea3a2c7b08c8/thumbnail_4051385.jpg","/articles/6314605/Norman/Cleveland-County/Oklahoma/February-sales-tax-down-5-finance-staff-warn-of-constrained-budget-runway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314605-f869fb67494ef8392bd729c6dc5dc142/orig.mp4?Expires=1775244338&Signature=Wxb3OCuqEKwVFYj9NVGqjHzQskIipxFf1gYGGk8K6ZS4wcsiFdZaShBFw2KcL-9RjTvFVCXCi4ObaJooPpwLjGeB6yrM3V33kKSP-cVbF9sj-cLSNYPXXPI7w2yvVKJAOcjUN0dMx4bP0GE8wRfAUC8ql01mAYR22U3pLaUbuafV4sL-7TV2LusIs60cokCLh~Ow7caZB8HoRtI3nvRZi9WRInNgPcctJasIBZaxfxWPTaWDbRsC0Axyo-XNIAlavGRMSN1tgf-IFNZxkl-K1PYmmUIPXkjiQfSmRX9ysmeIjwj~qX28wF7zu8JaEqRGRtRO4SJ1xk3IlbfmxWDTCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff told the Finance Committee on Feb. 20 that February sales tax remittance was down about 5% and that the drop — if sustained — will constrain the city’s budget outlook going into the FY26 process.

The finance director (unnamed) said “the February sales tax remittance was not positive. It was about minus 5%,” and cautioned committee members that the pattern could limit available increases for outside agencies and departmental requests. The director noted that although some months recently set revenue records, operating costs and payroll continue to grow and the city must weigh those pressures against new spending.

Use‑tax volatility: staff said year‑over‑year comparisons are affected by one‑time use‑tax events. The director referenced a large, one‑time use‑tax payment tied to NextEra (power‑project equipment deliveries) in the prior year that will not recur, and noted that use tax can be driven by large project deliveries rather than typical consumer spending.

Budget implications and next steps: staff recommended slowing the rate of hiring for vacant positions and carefully reviewing requests for new full‑time positions and outside agency increases. Committee members asked for a clearer list of budget drivers that could materially close the projected shortfall; staff said they would present options as part of the manager’s proposed budget. The committee also discussed transit funding and the micro‑transit pilot; staff said city transit is funded in part by federal sources and a voter‑approved local tax and that discussions about an RTA (regional transit authority) vote are anticipated in 2026.

Ending: No formal budget decisions were made at the meeting. Staff told councilors they will continue to update revenue forecasts and present trade‑offs for the FY26 budget deliberations.","City finance staff reported a roughly 5% decline in sales tax remittance for February and identified volatile use‑tax receipts as a contributor to year‑over‑year variation. Staff said the decline reinforces the need to reconsider requests for budget increases and to slow hiring of vacant positions as the city prepares the FY26 budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council to review NEDC contract and audit records amid questions about advocacy and transparency

Norman finance committee hears nonprofit requests as city braces for tight budget

City auditor releases triennial audit plan, flags P‑card, payroll and overtime risks

February sales tax down 5%; finance staff warn of constrained budget runway