Oklahoma County budget committee moves Behavioral Care Center funding to watch list, parks jail positions pending review

Oklahoma County budget committee members voted to remove the Behavioral Care Center’s operating amount from the July 1 budget and to recommend the BET worksheet with one key caveat: $1,408,177 will be set aside in reserve for 25 detention‑officer positions and reconsidered during the September supplement.

The action came after weeks of discussion about uncertain BCC operating costs — notably transportation and startup items — and concerns about beginning the fiscal year with large unvetted expenses. Committee members said more detailed cost estimates from the county’s consultant and Pre Oaks were needed before the BCC operating line is made part of the core budget.

At the meeting a member moved to remove the approximately $3.545 million BCC operating request from the BET recommendation and treat it as a watch‑list item to be revisited in September when more information — including transportation costs and contract terms — will be available. The motion passed by voice vote.

Separately, the committee debated how to handle the jail’s FY27 staffing request while protecting the county’s reserve posture. Committee member Brandon made the motion to fund the BET worksheet as presented but to ‘‘park’’ funding for 25 detention officers (salary plus FICA and retirement calculated at $1,408,177) in a reserve/watch account pending the jail’s ability to demonstrate need later in the year. The clerk revised the on‑screen worksheet to remove $1,408,177 from the general government line and show a projected reserve of roughly $17.48 million. On a roll call the committee recorded District 2 voting No; County Clerk, District 3, District 1, County Treasurer, Court Clerk, Assessor and Sheriff voted Yes; the recommendation will go to the Budget Board.

A follow‑up motion to explicitly include in the recommendation that the parked $1,408,177 be earmarked for the jail should the department show need passed unanimously. Committee members said the earmark provides an administrative path to free the funds quickly in the September supplement if the jail meets agreed conditions.

Why it matters: The committee’s actions keep most departmental requests intact for the Budget Board’s review while creating a mechanism to delay or confirm large, uncertain costs (BCC operations and additional jail positions) once better estimates are available. That approach aims to balance service needs against reserve and transparency concerns.

Next steps: The clerk will submit the committee’s BET recommendation, including the parked DO funding and the watch‑list items, to the Budget Board. The BCC operating request, transportation estimates, and benefits contingencies were all flagged for reevaluation during the September supplement.