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Authority reviews rate model, funding options for additional right-of-way crews
Summary
The board reviewed two rate-model scenarios: one that continues two additional CEO (clean-ecosystem/outreach) crews funded through FY26 and a model that does not continue them. Staff recommended discussing the model with the mayor's office and indicated a 4% rate increase for FY26 and 3% for subsequent years in the preferred scenario.
The Tulsa Authority for the Recovery of Energy reviewed FY26-FY30 rate model scenarios on March 25 and discussed whether to continue two additional right-of-way CEO crews after COVID-relief funding ends.
Cheryl Black, the public-works financial planning manager, presented two model runs. "The model grade increases are 4% for FY26 and 3 percent for FY27 through FY30," she said, summarizing the proposed rate path. One scenario includes funding for two additional CEO crews (at an estimated additional cost of roughly $500,000); the other does not.
Board members asked about fund-balance impacts and revenue assumptions. Staff said the model that funds the two extra crews would reduce the projected fund balance in later years (to about $1.8 million by FY30 in the model presented) compared with the alternative scenario (about $5.6 million by FY30). Staff emphasized that actual outcomes depend on upcoming collection-contract bids and recommended revisiting projections when bids are received.
The board expressed support for pursuing the scenario that includes the additional cleanup crews and asked staff to take that scenario to the mayor's office for discussion. Staff said the authority will present formal budget and rate items to council in April and that contract bids and other variables will affect final rate decisions.
No formal board vote was taken on adopting the full multi-year model at the meeting; staff will return with formal budget documents and recommended rate ordinances as needed.
