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Norman holds first public hearing on FY2027 budget as residents press questions about police spending
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Summary
Finance Director Clint Mercer presented the city manager’s proposed FY2027 budget — roughly $302 million in projected revenues and expenses — and said rising health‑care costs are the single largest driver of increases. Residents at the hearing questioned revenue assumptions and the scale of police spending.
Clint Mercer, Norman’s finance director, opened the council’s first formal budget hearing on the city manager’s proposed fiscal‑year 2027 budget, telling the council: “It’s my pleasure to present to you the city manager's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2627.” The presentation laid out projected total revenues and expenses of about $302 million and described sales and use tax as the largest revenue source for the city.
Mercer said the general fund projection is roughly $113 million, with sales and use tax the dominant contributor and police, public works and fire together consuming roughly 70% of general‑fund spending. He told the council the single largest factor driving the proposed budget is rising health‑care costs: “The single largest factor we’ve been dealing with in terms of cost increases is attributable to the cost of health care,” Mercer said.
Residents at the hearing raised questions about how revenue estimates were derived and urged fiscal caution. Mayumi (Mayumi/Miami) Windler asked whether revenue projections were based on last year’s receipts and whether the city should assume flat revenue and place surpluses in a rainy‑day fund. Russell Rice asked how police revenue (training fees and other department charges) is recorded and where that income is booked.
Antonio Geringer, who identified himself with Ward 6, urged council members to scrutinize growing police expenditures and asked how Norman compares to peer cities: “How are we going to contain that cost over time?” Geringer said. Council members and staff explained their conservative approach to sales‑tax forecasting — Mercer said staff budgets with modest growth assumptions and do not count on one‑time spikes — and noted follow‑up study sessions are scheduled to review capital and enterprise funds.
Why it matters: The FY2027 hearings begin the formal public process that leads to council adoption in June. The budget’s largest upward pressures — health‑care costs and public‑safety staffing — will shape rates, service levels and tradeoffs across parks, infrastructure and development programs. The council scheduled additional study sessions on May 5 (capital) and May 19 (enterprise funds) and will consider final adoption on June 9.
What’s next: The council closed this hearing and scheduled the second public hearing for May 26, giving residents further opportunities to ask for clarifications and propose changes.
