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Tulsa Fire Chief details FY26 budget, pins overtime pressure on pay, parental leave and vacancies
Summary
Tulsa Fire Chief Michael Baker told councilors the department’s FY26 spending plan holds staffing flat but faces rising overtime costs driven by negotiated pay increases, longevity and expanded leave use — including parental leave that has cost about $868,500 so far this fiscal year — and outlined steps to curb overtime.
Tulsa Fire Chief Michael Baker told the City Council on May that the department’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget does not add new firefighter positions but faces rising overtime costs tied to salary contract increases, growing longevity pay and use of negotiated leave benefits.
Baker said the department has proposed “0 new positions” in FY26 and is keeping routine non-capital spending largely flat while maintaining short-term capital to replace fleet and station support items. He highlighted a set of short-term capital requests including a UTV to support water-rescue operations, drones to expand the department’s first-responder drone program, fitness-equipment replacement and Class A foam replacements after a late‑year chemical fire near Charles Page.
The chief told the council that contractual pay increases — including negotiated steps across ranks from firefighter through deputy chief — and a large increase in longevity…
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