City Council faces backlash for approving budget exceeding $1.2 million limit

The Chickasha City Council meeting held on May 5, 2025, addressed significant financial concerns regarding expenditures related to the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Chickasha Industrial Authority (CIA).

During the meeting, it was reported that the city has spent a total of $1,104,056, with an additional allocation of $319,191 designated for OHA Corporation. This brings the total payout to $1,423,247, exceeding the initially set budget of $1.2 million by over $200,000. The discussion highlighted accountability issues, with strong criticism directed at the EDC for not rejecting expenditures beyond the budget limit, as well as the CIA and the city council for their approvals of these financial commitments.

Furthermore, an additional request for $121,934 was introduced, which would increase the total expenditure to $1,545,181, resulting in an overall budget overrun of $345,181. The council members expressed concerns about the implications of these financial decisions and the need for stricter oversight in future allocations.

The meeting concluded with a call for more rigorous financial management practices to prevent further budget overruns and ensure responsible spending moving forward.