Stan Geiger

I'm Enjoying the Debate

Tulsa's current budget "crisis" is getting a lot of public attention. I'm enjoying the process.

I'm enjoying seeing public unions go after each other like dogs fighting over a bone. Union brotherhood! We're all in it together! That, of course, unless one group of union employees is deemed more important than the other, and layoffs and pay cuts enter the picture.

Last I heard, a few years ago, something on the order of 9 percent of Oklahoma's overall workforce is comprised of union employees. Yet, a news report I saw this afternoon said 80 percent of city employees---employees paid with tax money---are covered by unions. There's something wrong with those numbers.

I think part of what we are seeing at present is an attempt by city leaders to use this fiscal shortfall to engage public unions. I applaud the effort. It is long overdue.

For example, the cop union said it would be willing to give up $100 a month in extra pay for officers with bachelor's degrees. Okay. But why does that bonus money exist in the first place? Does having a bachelor's degree make a cop more valuable than a cop that doesn't have a bachelor's degree? I think not. And if not, why should the one with the degree make $1,200 more per year?

See, that's union nonsense.

Cops living outside of town and driving their cruisers home became an issue. The cops finally agreed to drop that benefit.

Why should a cop that lives, say, on Keystone Lake be allowed to burn city money driving back and forth to work---not to mention other personal endeavors.

In my days at Meadowbrook Country Club, back in the early '80s, my boss was given a brand new Ford pickup. He was to use it driving the course in the execution of his job, but he was also allowed to take it home with him. The club had its own gas pump, and the boss filled 'er up everyday before he left for home.

It was a year, maybe two, after he got the new truck that I took a look at the odometer. Boss man had racked up over 50,000 miles.

Work vehicles, provided by employers, are for work. I don't think cops---or any other government employees---should be allotted vehicles for personal use, period.

Cops have argued the personal use of police cruisers came in exchange for cash compensation. How much money do you spend on a car? How much on fuel, maintenance and upkeep, insurance and cleaning, not to mention early replacement cost if you overwork it? What's worth more, a $1,000 pay raise---gross of taxes---or a free car?

I'm also amused by the lack of discussion about the high-paid chair-jockeys. They seem content to stay out of the picture. I've heard nothing, for example, about the mayor taking a pay cut. I've heard nothing about his staff taking pay cuts. I've heard nothing about his staff being downsized.

At any rate, I'm enjoying the discourse. I think we should have this going on all the time. I mean why does it take a "crisis?"

The issue of 40 IT people making more than $75k per year---plus benefits---has been raised. Why wasn't that issue raised while this cohort was being accumulated? I mean if we don't need these people on the payroll now we didn't need them when they were hired.

The issue of the city paying school crossing guards has been raised. Why is the city covering payroll for Tulsa Public Schools? Why does it take a "crisis" for some politician to bring this fact to light?

Taxpayers---those that don't work for the government at least---should act like we have a budget "crisis" all the time.

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