Tulsa development authorities approve property and housing actions; trustees table staffing budget amendment

On Jan. 23, 2025, trustees for the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity (TAO) and the Tulsa Development Authority (TDA) approved several property and development measures and heard a broad presentation on agency-owned assets. Trustees voted to delay action on a personnel budget amendment that would have funded two new senior staff roles, citing a need for fuller finance-committee review and clearer documentation.

The tabled personnel amendment would have used TAO fund balance to cover salaries and benefits for two new positions proposed to address workload and build up financial capacity. Staff told trustees the authority’s cash position could support the hires and said salary lines were currently under budget, but several trustees raised procedural concerns: multiple trustees said the memo lacked line-item detail, the finance committee had not met to review the request, and the board would like an updated organizational chart before approving changes. After a motion and second to postpone, the trustees voted by roll call to table the item until the next meeting.

Trustees approved a range of development and property transactions at the same session. The board unanimously approved a first amendment to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund agreement with 22 North Utica LLC, which delays the developer’s construction schedule. Staff said the developer, Stuart McDaniel, expects to…