Public hearing on Tulsa’s FY26 budget draws calls to restore River Parks funding and add sustainability and children’s services

The Tulsa City Council opened a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget and capital plan and heard comments from multiple community representatives who urged specific restorations and investments.

Jeff Edwards, executive with the River Parks Authority, told the council the authority had been removed from the city's accounting system and faces a budget shortfall that required moving to new payroll and accounts-payable systems. He warned that without funding from the city the authority "will have to cut services elsewhere," listing possible cuts including mowing, trail lighting and restroom schedules. "It's about $12,000 a month for us to keep the lights on," Edwards said, adding that the authority is assessing whether privately funded signature events such as FreedomFest can continue.

Several speakers urged councilors to fund the mayor's proposed Office of Children, Youth and Families. John Kenny, an advocate and organizer who identified himself as a Tulsa resident, said funding the office would help align schools, nonprofits and city services and could leverage outside funding. "I'm asking you to please vote yes to fund the mayor's office of children, youth, and families in the fiscal year 26 budget," Kenny said. Sam Robson, a Tulsa native and graduate of Tulsa Public Schools, also asked the council to support the mayor's budget and cited the need for a holistic approach to education, including city-level interventions.

Recent high-school graduate Isha Ariel said she supports the budget because it would help students who miss school due to family instability and transportation problems. "This budget will help many families across TPS and other districts nearby ... and allow these children to have the education they need," she said.

Nancy Moran urged the council to fully fund a sustainability planner position that was partially funded in the prior budget but has not been filled. She warned that data centers and other development have large water and energy footprints and said a planner could coordinate city responses to energy and water impacts, map disparate energy costs across neighborhoods, and prioritize tree canopy and heat-island mitigation.

Councilors did not take a final budget vote at the hearing; the session functioned to collect written and oral comments. Several speakers provided written memos or referenced prior materials they had sent to council offices. No formal decisions were made during the hearing; councilors indicated the public record would be considered as staff prepare the budget for future council action.