Link to Tulsa World article (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100212_11_0_TheGeo60438)
Quote
Kaiser Foundation, other donors to fund Tulsa government review
By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Published: 2/12/2010 4:37 PM
Last Modified: 2/12/2010 4:44 PM
The George Kaiser Family Foundation and private donors through the Tulsa Community Foundation have agreed to pay for a more than $400,000 strategic review of the city's government, Mayor Dewey Bartlett said Friday.
The review by KPMG, a national management consulting and auditing firm, will take 16 weeks with the goal of incorporating some of its recommendations into the budget for next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
"It is obvious that in this present economic environment our present government structure cannot be properly sustained," Bartlett said at an afternoon news conference.
"Nor can it provide the level of municipal services that the citizens expect and should receive. We must think about doing things in a different way."
The city can't control outside influences, such as the recession, but it can control what's going on internally, Bartlett said.
The review, which will begin this month, will include all 20 city departments under the mayor's responsibility.
It will not involve the airports, which are operated in conjunction with the Tulsa Airport Authority, Gilcrease Museum, which is managed through the University of Tulsa, or the City Council.
The objectives are to assess the city's services to identify strategic opportunities to reduce costs, enhance revenues, consolidate administrative functions and identify services that do not meet budget priorities, Bartlett said.
There is a PDF of the audit scope on the Tulsa World's website. Tulsa is lucky to have such generous citizens.
It's wonderful we have such generous donors to provide the audit.
Will it be implemented once the findings are presented?
Funny how this very thing was proposed on this board a few days ago....I'm all for it......
How long until we hear: "Kaiser is just trying to buy Tulsa city gov't" or "Kaiser is trying to cover up the stadium scandal"
3....2.....1.....
I think this is a great gift. Thank you Mr. Kaiser
Quote from: Breadburner on February 12, 2010, 08:36:31 PM
Funny how this very thing was proposed on this board a few days ago....I'm all for it......
Does Kaiser read TulsaNow? Does he POST here?
Quote from: Conan71 on February 12, 2010, 09:35:55 PM
How long until we hear: "Kaiser is just trying to buy Tulsa city gov't" or "Kaiser is trying to cover up the stadium scandal"
3....2.....1.....
I think this is a great gift. Thank you Mr. Kaiser
Maybe if FB were still around. I guess he takes his frustration out on the Whirled comment sections now.
Same old hen house
Same old fox at the door
Same people calling the shots
Same people that are picking the pockets of the citizens
Same people that are giving a small amount back
Same hidden addenda on out come
Same room where study will gather dust.
Same owner of the city government
The citizens should be most grateful to be able to sit back and
enjoy every decision made of for them
The study of PW transparency review should be noted as to the
outcome of the study.
Shame the city's $100,000 dollars + employees cannot see the
inequities existing.
Solution: find something we can add another tax on.
;D
Quote from: shadows on February 13, 2010, 02:55:52 PM
Same old hen house
Same old fox at the door
Same people calling the shots
Same people that are picking the pockets of the citizens
Same people that are giving a small amount back
Same hidden addenda on out come
Same room where study will gather dust.
Same owner of the city government
The citizens should be most grateful to be able to sit back and
enjoy every decision made of for them
The study of PW transparency review should be noted as to the
outcome of the study.
Shame the city's $100,000 dollars + employees cannot see the
inequities existing.
Solution: find something we can add another tax on.
;D
There you go little buddy, we knew you had it in you.
Quote from: swake on February 12, 2010, 10:52:30 PM
Does Kaiser read TulsaNow? Does he POST here?
Kaiser is Shadows
Just kidding.
They've been putting this together for awhile. Note that the last major city they did this for, they combined city/county resources based on the audit findings.
Just be ready to here departments heads crying and claiming conspiracies more than anyone. The city has resisted even basic audits by the city's own auditors, this is going to be WAY more intense than anything Phil Wood offered up.
I'm glad to see it happen. And for someone else to pay for it. It does concern me that people don't seem to realize that government is an employer in the marketplace as well. One of our largest.
If you make drastic cuts in government operations in an effort to make it more efficient, you are in effect adding to the downward spiral of a bad economy by increasing unemployment. That has a negative effect on purchasing, real estate values etc. That's where we get the money to run government. Tax revenues are then decreased, perhaps more than any efficiency savings.
The net value then of your efforts may in fact be counter productive. I don't think that should stop efforts to streamline government. I only question the timing. You trim your bushes during the growing season or very near the end of summer. Not in the winter.
Quote from: waterboy on February 14, 2010, 10:27:31 AM
I'm glad to see it happen. And for someone else to pay for it. It does concern me that people don't seem to realize that government is an employer in the marketplace as well. One of our largest.
If you make drastic cuts in government operations in an effort to make it more efficient, you are in effect adding to the downward spiral of a bad economy by increasing unemployment. That has a negative effect on purchasing, real estate values etc. That's where we get the money to run government. Tax revenues are then decreased, perhaps more than any efficiency savings.
The net value then of your efforts may in fact be counter productive. I don't think that should stop efforts to streamline government. I only question the timing. You trim your bushes during the growing season or very near the end of summer. Not in the winter.
Lol....
Do you ever think in more than two or three words or letters?
Quote from: waterboy on February 14, 2010, 10:27:31 AM
You trim your bushes during the growing season or very near the end of summer. Not in the winter.
The ice storm a few weeks ago trimmed some of my vegetation. Fortunately, no where near as much as 2007.
I will predict an assessment will show that we need to re-consider the arrangement where the city buys up AEP's excess overnight generating capacity (in the form of arbitrary streetlighting), which is in the millions of dollars.
I will also predict they recommend AEP begin aggressively encouraging the future use of overnight plug-in cars to compensate for the reduced load of streetlights, as streetlights become more energy efficient.
Once AEP stops looking at city street lighting as a major off-peak subsidy, we can finally get around to having streetlighting that is actually better designed for the purpose of lighting streets.
I know Kaiser has donated a lot of streetlights, but sofar what they have donated has ended up costing us more in energy costs to maintain, which in the long run hurts us. The gift that keeps on taking.
Quote from: patric on February 14, 2010, 11:48:24 AM
I will predict an assessment will show that we need to re-consider the arrangement where the city buys up AEP's excess overnight generating capacity (in the form of arbitrary streetlighting), which is in the millions of dollars.
I will also predict they recommend AEP begin aggressively encouraging the future use of overnight plug-in cars to compensate for the reduced load of streetlights, as streetlights become more energy efficient.
Once AEP stops looking at city street lighting as a major off-peak subsidy, we can finally get around to having streetlighting that is actually better designed for the purpose of lighting streets.
I know Kaiser has donated a lot of streetlights, but sofar what they have donated has ended up costing us more in energy costs to maintain, which in the long run hurts us. The gift that keeps on taking.
Anyone know if the city is on variable-rate pricing? If so, overnight utility costs are much lower.
5
4
;D ;D
For the sake of the citizens who are unable to pay their electric bill lets not find ways that AEP can reduce cost of street lighting to the city. As they are a franchise dealer to provide the electricity for the street lighting and residents they have a set return on their investment. If theirs sales falls below the profit granted then they will go to for double the amount to the corporation commission and be given one half as they expected as a rate increase. It boils down to an increase on all electric rates paid by the rate payers and more profit for AEP.
ONG just did it.
Quote from: waterboy on February 14, 2010, 10:27:31 AM
I'm glad to see it happen. And for someone else to pay for it. It does concern me that people don't seem to realize that government is an employer in the marketplace as well. One of our largest.
If you make drastic cuts in government operations in an effort to make it more efficient, you are in effect adding to the downward spiral of a bad economy by increasing unemployment. That has a negative effect on purchasing, real estate values etc. That's where we get the money to run government. Tax revenues are then decreased, perhaps more than any efficiency savings.
The net value then of your efforts may in fact be counter productive. I don't think that should stop efforts to streamline government. I only question the timing. You trim your bushes during the growing season or very near the end of summer. Not in the winter.
Perhaps we should have never become that dependent on government in the first place and government could have contracted out varyious services to private firms instead of taking them onto their own payroll and thus making those people dependent on government.
I do realize there are certain functions that only government can do with government employees, but I think it will be a real eye-opener to see how much administration, waste, and job dupication there is when profitability is not not a consideration.
What should we expect out of municipal government?
Roads
Police protection
Fire protection
Water/Sewage/Trash collection and in some areas they provide all the utility services
Building code enforcement
Probably one or two things I'm forgetting here.
How many engineers do we really need on city payroll? How big an IT department, HR/payroll department, accounting, etc? How many services could be out-sourced while giving more support to local business without the government assuming the fiscal liabilities of employment?
The reason our governemnt is running short on funds is we have become over-dependent on government to solve too many of our needs and problems.
Sometimes they create far to many problems at an extreme expense on the taxpayer.......
Quote from: Conan71 on February 15, 2010, 10:58:13 AM
Perhaps we should have never become that dependent on government in the first place and government could have contracted out varyious services to private firms instead of taking them onto their own payroll and thus making those people dependent on government.
I do realize there are certain functions that only government can do with government employees, but I think it will be a real eye-opener to see how much administration, waste, and job dupication there is when profitability is not not a consideration.
What should we expect out of municipal government?
Roads
Police protection
Fire protection
Water/Sewage/Trash collection and in some areas they provide all the utility services
Building code enforcement
Probably one or two things I'm forgetting here.
How many engineers do we really need on city payroll? How big an IT department, HR/payroll department, accounting, etc? How many services could be out-sourced while giving more support to local business without the government assuming the fiscal liabilities of employment?
The reason our governemnt is running short on funds is we have become over-dependent on government to solve too many of our needs and problems.
And I don't think there's a desire so much by Kaiser and a lot of other Tulsans to make a smaller government, but a government that's a lot more efficient and do more with what it has.
Lord knows that enough public infrastructure projects (roads, etc.) have been put on the back burner because too much cash is going in other directions. If the audit frees up that cash, that means more for stuff that's really important. I don't necessarily think it would mean fewer jobs in the city. It may mean some folks get laid off or reassigned, and other departments would hire because some of the needs are real.
Besides, by the time this audit is completed and the results are presumably implemented, the economic recovery should be well on its way.
Quote from: rwarn17588 on February 15, 2010, 11:43:29 AM
And I don't think there's a desire so much by Kaiser and a lot of other Tulsans to make a smaller government, but a government that's a lot more efficient and do more with what it has.
Lord knows that enough public infrastructure projects (roads, etc.) have been put on the back burner because too much cash is going in other directions. If the audit frees up that cash, that means more for stuff that's really important. I don't necessarily think it would mean fewer jobs in the city. It may mean some folks get laid off or reassigned, and other departments would hire because some of the needs are real.
Besides, by the time this audit is completed and the results are presumably implemented, the economic recovery should be well on its way.
I wasn't implying with my post this audit would reduce city payroll, though I have my personal hopes that it could. I heard the mayor saying in an interview this morning there are positions needed in other areas which can help provide essential services much better or provide services we cannot at the present by eliminating waste in other areas. I will be curious to see what kind of political football this audit will be when the results are in and how long it takes to get a straight answer as to the results.
As far as a "recovery" goes, I think the effects of shopping in the suburbs (though that's easier to track) and revenue drain to casinos has been under-estimated. Time will tell on that RW.
Quote from: Conan71 on February 15, 2010, 12:24:04 PM
...revenue drain to casinos has been under-estimated.
I completely agree. I know too many people who are going to the casinos every couple of weeks and think it is OK because they are being "entertained" while losing a couple of hundred dollars.
I think the State of Oklahoma got into the casino business poorly and Governor Brad Henry signed compacts that were too one-sided to the tribes side.
Quote from: RecycleMichael on February 15, 2010, 12:29:28 PM
I know too many people who are going to the casinos every couple of weeks and think it is OK because they are being "entertained" while losing a couple of hundred dollars.
As far as their personal finances are concerned it is OK if they can afford the "entertainment".
I will agree the city would be better off if they went somewhere that charged sales tax for the city.
Send them to Bixby, I'm sure we could use the money too. ;D
I've re-thought my responsibility as a citizen and what my consumption means to the well-being of the city both in terms of helping to support local jobs, local business owners, and the sales tax base. I'm certainly not implying I'm one of the bigger consumers of goods and services, but if enough people have the same attitude it multiplies and becomes noticeable.
These days, I find myself rarely buying anything on-line anymore unless I absolutely cannot get it locally in a time frame that I need. I try and buy from locally-owned or regionally-owned (i.e. Reasor's) stores or restaurants whenever possible. I also try to support the local brewery as much as possible. ;)
Quote from: Conan71 on February 15, 2010, 01:02:10 PM
I also try to support the local brewery as much as possible. ;)
The most important one to support.
Quote from: swake on February 12, 2010, 10:52:30 PM
Does Kaiser read TulsaNow? Does he POST here?
We have become quite a suggestion box.
Maybe seeing a crazy wacky "leftie" like me wanting audits done really meant something :P
Quote from: swake on February 12, 2010, 10:52:30 PM
Does Kaiser read TulsaNow? Does he POST here?
I seemed to remember he registered at one point. The old forum format showed member stats and would list the newest member. I remembered seeing this when he did. Not that I had any real interest in the river tax issue ;) :
From the member register
Name: gkaiser
Real name:
Posts: 0 (0 per day)
Position: Citizen
Date Registered: October 09, 2007, 01:21:21 am
Last Active: November 07, 2007, 06:53:45 pm If he still reads us, he's not signing in to do it. If Oct. 9, 2007 sounds familiar, that was the day of the River Tax vote.
SPECIAL PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS
The Public Works Director requested Internal Auditing to obtain all information for this project through his office. He requested Internal Auditing to not contact Public Works employees directly. His reason for making this request was because this Change Order has already been reviewed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the grand jury. The Director said these reviews have demanded a great deal of time from his employees and have not produced any negative results. The Director wanted to reduce duplicating responses to questions already answered by Public Works staff. In addition, the Director wanted to reduce potential confusion of stormwater regulations by ensuring that requests for technical and procedural information were addressed in an orderly and expeditious way. Internal Auditing complied with this request and obtained most of the information and documents reviewed from the Director. The Director provided Internal Auditing with copies of documentation requested, answered inquiries, and volunteered other information used to support the conclusions of this report.
Section 220.02 of the Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing states: The internal auditing department should have employees or use consultants who are qualified in such disciplines as accounting, economics, finance, statistics, electronic data processing, engineering, taxation, and law as needed to meet audit responsibilities. Several issues relevant to this special project require knowledge of engineering and law. Internal Auditing has relied on the engineering expertise of Public Works employees and the legal expertise of the City Attorney for resolution of these issues.
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So we gonna have an audit. Ha ha;he he; ho ho!
Above is a reproduction from the audit requested of the Public Works/Storm Water Management Departments by the grand jury. It was presented by auditor Wood. It is self evident that the fox lies across the door to the hen house saying "if there is any thing that you need to know I'll tell you."
KPMG made an audit of EMSA in June 1992-93 Did we make any use of it? Ha,ha.
Ralph Anderson & Associates made a audit of Organizational Effectiveness study of the city June 1991 ($50,000)pointing to the same things many are complaining about today about the over staffing related to the work force. Did the city address it? He,he.
The city is going to have another audit paid for by individuals. Same reason; to quiet the citizenry just like the Public Works/Storm Water Management fiasco. Will the citizens read it? Ho, Ho! ;D ;D