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Council adopts FY2027 amended budget over resident objections to transit cuts
Summary
After public testimony urging participatory budgeting and increased transit and youth investments, the Oklahoma City Council adopted an amended FY2027 budget (7–1). Budget staff said the general fund rises 3.54% driven by personnel costs and the amended budget totals $2.1 billion.
The Oklahoma City Council voted 7–1 on June 2 to adopt an amended FY2027 annual budget after a public hearing that drew residents and advocates pressing for participatory budgeting, more transit funding and greater investment in youth and homeless services.
Residents and advocates, including Cole McAfee, Andy Moore, Bridget Burns and Aurelius Francisco, criticized proposed cuts to weekend bus service and urged the council to adopt a participatory budgeting process that would bring residents more direct input into spending priorities. McAfee said the budget “is not reflective of the needs of Oklahoma City residents,” citing lack of sidewalks, drainage and affordable housing in neighborhoods. Francisco highlighted concerns about priorities for violence prevention and asked council members to consider alternatives to investing predominantly in traditional public safety responses.
City Manager Craig Freeman and Budget Director Chris York presented the amendment and an overview of the annual budget. York said the amendment increases authority across several funds by about $9.4 million and results in a $2.1 billion amended budget. He reported the city’s general fund is increasing by 3.54%, largely because of personnel costs — health insurance, cost‑of‑living adjustments and retirement increases — and that departments were asked to take modest cuts (2.4% in most general‑fund departments and 1.4% in public safety departments). York also noted a large hotel/motel tax revenue increase tied to a prior rate change and headcount net changes that include minor decreases in some departments; he said the headcount summary does not include 20 previously frozen police officer positions.
Council members voiced divergent views in debate: several members thanked residents for testimony and said they supported the budget as a compromise in a constrained revenue environment, while other members said cuts to bus services and reductions in programs that serve vulnerable populations weigh against support. After discussion, council moved and approved the resolution adopting the annual budget; the roll call vote was recorded as seven in favor and one opposed.
The budget will return for final hearings on related appropriations and sales‑tax funded resolutions later in June, and staff said departments will coordinate implementation and the public hearing record will remain part of the fiscal proceedings.
