McAlester council adopts 2025–26 budget, corrects Midtown TIF boundary, accepts expo lands and continues city manager’s contract

McAlester — The McAlester City Council on Friday, June 27, adopted the city’s fiscal 2025–26 budget, approved a correction to the legal description of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District No. 2 (Midtown), accepted a division of lands from the Pittsburg County Expo Authority, approved a correction to police pay-scale paperwork effective July 1, 2025, and voted to continue the city manager’s contract following an executive session.

The votes took place during a noon special meeting that included a public hearing on the budget (with no members of the public speaking during the hearing), a review of a corrected TIF legal description, and an executive session on personnel. The city characterized the TIF action as a technical correction to a prior project plan and said the assessor’s office is using the corrected description.

The budget: The council adopted an ordinance to approve the City of McAlester budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and also approved an emergency clause so the ordinance takes effect immediately. Council members recorded unanimous votes for both the budget ordinance and the emergency clause. The council received a staff presentation confirming that the budget in the packet matched prior public notices and that the proposed spending plan is slightly smaller than last year’s and reflects a conservative approach. A resident, Steve Belcher, asked the council to note that Councilor Stone arrived at 12:03 p.m.; the council recorded Stone’s vote as yes when the roll was called.

The Midtown TIF correction: The council approved an amendment to Ordinance No. 2831 to correct a legal description for TIF District No. 2 (Midtown development project). According to remarks during the meeting, the maps attached to the March project plan were correct but the survey plat’s legal description inadvertently included a parcel that should not have been in the district. "The maps that were included were actually correct. However, on the survey plat, it included a piece of property that should not have been included in the TIF District," said Mister White (staff member). Council approval forwarded the corrected description to the assessor’s office. The motion passed 5–1 (Roden recorded the lone no vote; all other members voted yes).

Police pay scales: The council approved a resolution amending the city’s police pay scales effective July 1, 2025. Staff said the change does not alter pay amounts but corrects a page reference typo in the packet (the packet showed "p. 13" while the corrected version should read "p. 15"). Staff also noted the police department has lost four positions; the pay-scale change was described as largely revenue-neutral and not a request for additional budget funding. The resolution passed on a unanimous vote.

Acceptance of expo lands: The council voted to accept a division of lands from the Pittsburg County Expo Authority. The legal description presented begins at the southeast corner of section 34, township 6 north, range 15 east of the Indian Meridian, runs west 2,200 feet to a point, and specifies that lands east of that point will be owned solely by the City of McAlester while lands west will remain with Pittsburg County. The transfer covers the city’s portion of the expo complex, including the softball fields and the archery complex; staff said the city will maintain existing user contracts and assume responsibility for two retaining ponds. Ross, identified in the meeting as a Pittsburg County representative, confirmed the county board of commissioners had approved the plan. The motion passed unanimously.

Executive session and city manager contract: The council recessed into executive session under the statutory exception cited in the meeting (referenced by the council as title 25, section 307(b)(1)) for discussion of personnel matters related to the executive manager. After returning to open session, a motion to continue the city manager’s contract as it existed passed on a recorded vote with all members voting yes.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance adopting FY2025–26 budget (including emergency clause): Passed, unanimous. - Ordinance amendment to Ordinance No. 2831 (Midtown TIF legal description): Passed, 5–1 (Roden no). - Resolution amending police pay scales (effective 07/01/2025; typo correction p.13→p.15; no change in amounts): Passed, unanimous. - Acceptance of divided lands from Pittsburg County Expo Authority (description beginning at SE corner sect. 34, T6N R15E): Passed, unanimous. - Motion to continue the city manager’s contract (post–executive session): Passed, unanimous.

What it means: The budget ordinance sets the city’s fiscal plan for the upcoming year and takes effect immediately because the council also approved the emergency clause. The TIF legal-description correction aligns the official survey text with previously published maps and will determine which properties are subject to Midtown TIF allocations; staff confirmed the assessor’s office is using the corrected description. The land acceptance transfers the city’s portion of the expo complex to municipal ownership, including recreation facilities that affect local users. The police pay-scale item fixed packet paperwork without requesting increased funding. The council’s action to continue the city manager’s contract was a personnel decision taken after a closed session.

Meeting procedure and public participation: The meeting included roll call and a public hearing on the budget (no commenters spoke during the hearing). One member of the public—Steve Belcher—spoke during general discussion to place on record Councilor Stone’s arrival time. Councilors and staff asked procedural and clarifying questions during each item; no outside attorneys or additional members of the public addressed the substantive items on the agenda.

Next steps: Staff said the corrected TIF legal text has been provided to the assessor’s office and the city will proceed with implementing the adopted budget. No additional council dates for these items were specified at the meeting.