Trust defers vote on professional services agreement with Greater Oklahoma City Chamber

Trustees on May 20 voted to defer a professional services agreement with the Oklahoma City Economic Development Foundation, Incorporated (the Chamber) after asking staff for more detail on how the city—s payment fits into the chamber—s overall operating budget.

Joanna McSpadden, finance department, described the contract as a base services payment of $1,200,000 that is flat from last year and said additional services funding is available on an as-needed basis. "Their base of $1,200,000 is flat from last year," McSpadden said. She also said the film office funding is excluded from this contract; that item is $750,000 and is separate.

Trustees questioned what share of the chamber—s total operating budget the city—s contribution represents. A trustee asked for a breakdown of the chamber—s revenue sources (private memberships, earned income, government contributions) and the percentage made up by the city. McSpadden said she did not have that breakdown at the meeting but would find it.

The trustees also discussed the additional services line, noting it rose from $100,000 to $250,000; staff said that funding is used only if the city approves specific work. A motion to defer the item passed; staff said the deferred item would appear before the city council on July 1 if approved at the June 17 trust meeting.

The board recorded the action as a deferral, not a denial; staff will return with the requested budget-source breakdown and clarifications on the additional services line.