Policy & Governance recommends multiple department estimates to budget team; discusses free-fair manual, staffing and emergency management needs

The Oklahoma County Policy & Governance Committee reviewed several FY25–26 department estimates of needs and voted to recommend those requests to the county Budget Evaluation Team (BET).

The committee received estimates and made recommendations spanning multiple departments and programs. Highlights included discussion of the Oklahoma County Free Fair Association’s draft manual and financial procedures, staffing recruitment for BOCC administrative positions, janitorial and capital-improvement budgets, emergency management funding and equipment needs, and operational and software needs for the county pharmacy.

Free Fair: The committee met with the county free fair president and reviewed the draft free-fair manual and attached forms. The president said facility rental costs for the Jones facility are expected to increase from approximately $9,000 to $15,000–$16,000 for upcoming events; the president requested a 10% increase on the association’s current allocation to cover rental and other costs. The president also requested a stipend for a secretary and cited a $7.50 figure (as stated during the meeting). Committee staff and the association discussed moving judges’ payouts into professional services for faster payment and…