Stan Geiger

Mayor v. Council

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett and the City Council have seemingly been at odds since the Bartlett administration began. There is currently a battle going on as to whether or not the city should spend available money or sit on it. The Council says spend it; the mayor says sit on it, Ralph.

Me thinks I side with the Council on this one. If the money is there, it has already been collected, spend it on things people should get for their tax dollars. Mow the grass, turn on the lights, buy salt and sand for the coming winter and put the copper choppers back in the air.

The mayor claims he is being a good conservative leader. He says he doesn't want to spend any new money until he is sure such expenditures are sustainable. If I thought he was telling the truth, I might applaud his stance. Unfortunately, I think he's full of bull.

The mayor wants to keep the screws tightened so he can gain support for what he calls "revenue enhancements." By any other name, what he advocates is tax increases. No politician wants to use the word "tax" anymore. So we get into semantics. From where I sit, any money the gubment takes out of your pocket is a tax. You may call it whatever you like. You may call it tuition, you may call it a toll, you may call it a fee, you may call it a fine. Whatever. It's a tax.

Not long ago, I saw a report published by KOTV. That report said the mayor wanted to make "revenue enhancement" the "hallmark of his administration." That's a far cry from what his campaign ads said. In those ads, Bartlett, Republican and self-proclaimed conservative, said he would improve city services without any tax increases.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we have no conservative party in this land. Vote Democrat or vote Republican. Government grows no matter which party is in control.

The City of Tulsa has a very simple problem: It has too many people on the payroll, it pays people, at least in some instances, ridiculous amounts for the jobs they occupy, and benefit costs are a runaway train.

Find me a politician that is willing to address the real problem. Maybe then I will sign on to support.

---