[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6298114,"mediaKeyId","2505471-2a5b549c6ee46b575e86acc655bbb151","parentId",2505471,"title","Budget team seeks clearer definition of \"flat budget,\" directs clerk and finance to revise estimate-of-needs forms","audioSeconds",5147,"startMs",2649000,"endMs",7796000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2505471-2a5b549c6ee46b575e86acc655bbb151&start=2649&end=7796","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2505471-2a5b549c6ee46b575e86acc655bbb151/thumbnail_2649000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6298114/Oklahoma-County/Oklahoma/Budget-team-seeks-clearer-definition-of-flat-budget-directs-clerk-and-finance-to-revise-estimate-of-needs-forms","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298114-b2ee345e91cd2668e4fd011b762e9ddc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775478692&Signature=JB8-1qHbQRHMUBi5Sk3kp36q14AFohndN9N5Z72c0UFdRTZCWK122XFf5hmbNi4z37-z5lw2NTygUVMAKrZ6BkHGxkHOtAboKGMZ0vC2zHYjT3Ct-YFjJI0KxkhIxmdfoXMLzQhUBu4Pr5Bf60qPQWdGKiGwRuAR3HRlmzP58CUauLr-Qacr4CnU1n2-k-0Jb4mkfbTObtAvrFsmM15~V5kohoOIzkejUq~EvmgT1IP7asE43sfwUYVbYBk8H23Ob98Gyo2XR1AudC-bhOr94JgtGOpxQxf5Y~faWJZT444j1eWicPVwHpKx6hDtThfyTj4whcREs451kuA7remhzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oklahoma County, OK","date","2025-03-05T05:58:11Z","article","The Budget Evaluation Team spent the bulk of its March 4, 2025 meeting reviewing the county's estimate-of-needs process and debating what it means to adopt a \"flat budget.\" Members considered whether the county should continue using a February snapshot of budget numbers to build the July 1 estimate-of-needs or switch to a September-based baseline that better captures supplements and transfers.

Jason said the current process is confusing: \"We're doing estimate needs at this point in the year, and we're not gonna really use that information until September.\" He proposed adopting a flat budget approach that would carry the September supplement numbers forward as a starting point and reserve detailed adjustments for the September budget work. Finance staff and the clerk's office described how the current worksheet pulls a February snapshot and uses formulas to compute payroll-related items (FICA, retirement) and an extrapolated \"reserve\" column derived from an eight-month snapshot.

Staff and members described two recurring problems: (1) the forms mix calculated estimates (the 'what you need' worksheet) with the current adopted budget fields, producing mismatches; and (2) this year's front-funding of employee health insurance premiums (which finance placed in a central supplement account because of cash constraints) produced a budget presentation that looks like large one-time reductions for some departments. One finance staff described the issue: the county had to \"move that down into a supplement account\" because cash was not available to expense premiums monthly, and that movement made some department budgets appear smaller on the worksheet even though cash was available in county reserves.

To address the problems, the team directed the clerk's office and finance staff to produce corrected estimate-of-needs worksheets. Specific changes the group agreed to pursue included removing automatic payroll/formula calculations from the \"actual/revised\" budget column (so that column contains hard-coded, administrator-verified numbers), adding a formula or line that explicitly back-outs front-funded insurance premiums so the published numbers compare \"apples to apples,\" and producing a per-department tracking sheet that records July 1 budget, September supplement additions (with notes about whether each is one-time or ongoing), and midyear transfers so members can see what changed and why.

The clerk's office said it would issue corrected forms reflecting those changes and would re-send the estimate-of-needs worksheets to departments. The group also agreed to continue departmental presentations at the upcoming P&G meeting and to work with offices to ensure the teams have accurate numbers before presentation. No formal policy change was adopted that day; the finance and clerk teams will implement the worksheet adjustments and circulate revised documents for use in the FY2025-26 process.

Ending: The clerk and finance staff will revise and reissue the estimate-of-needs worksheets (removing formulas from actual columns and adding the insurance back-out) and the team asked departments to review corrected forms ahead of scheduled presentations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BET Special Meeting 03/04/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Members debated shifting the county's budget snapshot date, removing formulas from certain form fields and tracking one-time adjustments after fiscal year adoption. Clerk and finance staff will update worksheets and issue corrected forms ahead of departmental presentations.","taxTitle","Oklahoma County, Oklahoma","taxId",2676,"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},6298118,"Budget team votes 5-3 to make Cody Compton chairman as a nonvoting member",990,1776000,2766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2505471-2a5b549c6ee46b575e86acc655bbb151&start=1776&end=2766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2505471-2a5b549c6ee46b575e86acc655bbb151/thumbnail_1776000.jpg","/articles/6298118/Oklahoma-County/Oklahoma/Budget-team-votes-5-3-to-make-Cody-Compton-chairman-as-a-nonvoting-member","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298118-a6e9a27312226bb5ab6eef3048d2630a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775478692&Signature=B7oLKmZTJ3uXFKQI~h7vjosNl42Z-HSaxufdYqUGByUYRbHsnKTtnvPzd~KPy0OIDdHaRZYobYCP~KeTWLzb7jy7V4LcUWTI6x8c5MlFYNL1X7pT5eMUKts8HlqY80-ek3nHV2OFOP~D0rDKPEozwfoT20b~K95hSSPhlzkIS-zX6qPzeTWe0bJ9DqpRlpTzw3JhkZwa89kbeLVhbNpBDjzCksMQPTggnDYmIE2aTLjMKoyqTYKXZ-jKkQO8qJFeD4qWTyOpz4dGq7DJ5n2kBAglSY20VH~y8R3tgItrnDpN1ws8E5wT07j-NzEcck9yDysAtGzR8uBZDpFw~Ng8HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Budget Evaluation Team voted March 4, 2025, to recommend making Cody Compton the team's chairman in a nonvoting role, a motion the group carried 5-3 and agreed to send to the Budget Board for formal consideration.

Christie moved to name \"Cody Compton as our chairman, nonvoting member, going forward,\" and a second was recorded. The motion prompted objections from some members who said the arrangement could create perceived conflicts because Compton is an employee of the sheriff's office and represents District 1. One member said, \"I don't think that's a wise decision for a number of reasons ... it could lead to some awkward positions for Cody. Whether they're actual or they're perceived, we all know how at times this place can operate.\" The speaker identified their opposition as not personal to Compton.

Compton spoke in favor of continuing to support the team and said he had spoken with Sheriff Johnson, who \"is fine with it.\" After discussion, the clerk recorded a roll-call vote: Brandy (no), Jason (yes), Paul (no), Christie (yes), Rick (yes), Mike (yes), Brandon (yes), Joe (no). The clerk reported the vote as 5 to 3 in favor.

Members discussed procedural next steps. The group noted that the committee was created by a county resolution and that a change in representation or chairmanship likely must be presented to and accepted by the Budget Board and may require amending the establishing resolution. The clerk's office said it would prepare the item to send to the Budget Board. No change to voting rights or the resolution was finalized at the meeting; the motion will be presented as a recommendation for the Budget Board to act upon.

Ending: The Team agreed to advance the recommendation to the Budget Board and asked the clerk's office to prepare the paperwork and to record the group's appreciation to Cody for his service.","The Budget Evaluation Team voted 5-3 to recommend that Cody Compton serve as chairman in a nonvoting capacity; the motion will be forwarded to the budget board.",{"_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},6298120,"Budget team debates moving pretrial GPS fees into general fund, keeping indigent fund available",1216,199000,1415000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2505471-2a5b549c6ee46b575e86acc655bbb151&start=199&end=1415","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2505471-2a5b549c6ee46b575e86acc655bbb151/thumbnail_199000.jpg","/articles/6298120/Oklahoma-County/Oklahoma/Budget-team-debates-moving-pretrial-GPS-fees-into-general-fund-keeping-indigent-fund-available","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298120-a332578846eeef3bd934a13c8844973b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775478692&Signature=oReddsldnVUZxZojSYX6exgeE7gvYoYa5YyfZ0N0S-GG3bUZnqNi422Qgv-vegTIwKOhweslCAJzERlo0XRcIN0lRaVfxpKK4ZNMUwyKDaQw9WJsTkMdw3kHPLfaX3b26sbrL~WUX44WOS4THNyqSSuEU3EmpytOz4rDLtCJWC80ceHES90vfzF6dmCFXxqDlIitJeBuEYf6TqSTT7j4yLH7az2MYhK47xNxlrgn2PvGX4Pogz73GvBrfuG5tH9bmd58GsVzmBtqTmUgLz4zyiH4gGHrCYWEZopkFm2b6BGNkA82dyQMyi-QCBImLB7mpatv0-ngKlR9eqKwrnAGpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Budget Evaluation Team of Oklahoma County met in a special session March 4, 2025, and discussed whether pretrial services contracts and memoranda of understanding should be funded from the county general fund instead of a special revenue account and how to handle small GPS service fees currently recorded in fund 12-60.

The discussion focused on two practical questions: whether MOU/contract payments for pretrial services should be paid from general government beginning July 1, and whether fees collected from people on GPS monitoring that are currently booked to fund 12-60 or an indigent fund may be transferred or used to subsidize those contract costs. \"I had always envisioned that starting July 1, there's not estimated needs for these 3. 12.60 is a special revenue,\" one member said, arguing contracts could be paid from the general fund and any small fees would then be posted as miscellaneous revenue.

Members reported that the amount currently collected in fees is small: a deposit of about $1,400 was noted as recently posted. Participants also reviewed the county's prior practice of using an indigent fund to cover GPS monitoring fees for people found indigent by the courts. One member said that the indigent fund was seeded about a decade ago at roughly $50,000 and that the county had transferred general fund dollars into that account in prior years: \"Our fiscal year 22-23, 23-24 general fund put $76,000 in each year,\" a participant said.

Legal and accounting limits were raised repeatedly. A staff member recited a statutory citation described in the meeting as \"Title 22, Section 991,\" which the group said establishes a community-service program paid by individuals ordered by the courts. Members also flagged that some special revenue accounts historically are restricted and that transferring restricted fees into the general fund could be prohibited unless statute or policy allows it. \"I made the assumption that there has to be a statutory allowance for us to charge a fee for something, and I just assumed it would be restricted,\" another participant said.

Participants discussed practical approaches. Several preferred to pay contractor MOUs from the general fund and to treat any small GPS fees as miscellaneous revenue that could then be used by the county for the program if allowable. Others urged caution: even if the county consolidates contract payments into the general fund, the county may still need a dedicated indigent fund to pay GPS monitoring for people the courts find indigent. The group noted that current contracts require following best practices and accreditation standards, and members raised concerns that meeting those standards increases program cost without producing identifiable liability reduction.

No formal vote or policy change was taken at the meeting. Staff committed to researching whether fees booked to special revenue accounts (fund 12-60) can be legally transferred or used to subsidize general fund contracts, and to provide clearer estimates of the fees being collected. The discussion was scheduled to continue as part of the FY2025-26 budget work: members agreed to defer final decisions until the budget process produced the dollar amounts needed for contracts and indigent support.

Ending: The Budget Evaluation Team left the account structure and funding approach open and asked county finance and clerk's staff to follow up with legal and accounting guidance ahead of the fiscal-year budget cycle.","Oklahoma County\u0000Budget Evaluation Team members discussed consolidating pretrial services contracts into the general fund and how to treat small GPS service fees currently in a special revenue account (12-60) and an indigent fund. No formal change was adopted; staff will research legal limits and accounting options before the FY2025-26 cycle.","actionData","errors"]

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Budget team seeks clearer definition of "flat budget," directs clerk and finance to revise estimate-of-needs forms

Budget team votes 5-3 to make Cody Compton chairman as a nonvoting member

Budget team debates moving pretrial GPS fees into general fund, keeping indigent fund available