[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6228171,"mediaKeyId","3477256-21b77fb82dcc349f064ed509562ce774","parentId",3477256,"title","Tahlequah presents FY 2025-26 budget with 3% raises, $1.8M in capital funding and proposed 10% rainy-day transfer","audioSeconds",683,"startMs",388765,"endMs",1072280,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477256-21b77fb82dcc349f064ed509562ce774&start=388&end=1072","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477256-21b77fb82dcc349f064ed509562ce774/thumbnail_388765.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6228171/Oklahoma/Tahlequah-presents-FY-2025-26-budget-with-3-raises-18M-in-capital-funding-and-proposed-10-rainy-day-transfer","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228171-3579d0d7217827e9ea2504e2bced673f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080586&Signature=o3hJvOY1zDUkDWnle5UyikZXYy41op8APG7robZ42wYqzemVbHs~ugcSChQ3FNd3EB3bniR7sl0tANZXi890WbE0LL5RPoQp5yH3SfSLRbgZA~pHOc-MkN74n0rhU8gwkb4TJIidBFAndbX4Qdj519JGSjKLEkaZxuSbSJtieE~JBzvoaKEcZTbaTawaZg0ZZ629pTiWWgquCnDFJ0afUkHG1mUW8FGmgVGr3h-nwYWdu~ZWZUFgLwVKXALJnzuCoy~acb7X2X9WA6a1XF0vjJmT4m3T85m7sWgLrsQp37PLynBOZcVh~XSsvSaMvztFFSvkH4wI4fVR58SpqxmUVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Tahlequah, OK","date","2025-05-24T00:23:04.54Z","article","City officials presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget to the Tahlequah City Council, outlining a plan that estimates a 3% increase in tax revenue, provides a 3% across-the-board pay increase for full-time city employees, funds $1.8 million of approximately $2.4 million in capital-improvement requests, and recommends a 10% transfer to the rainy-day fund.

Mayor Suzanne Myers said the proposed budget “does include an estimate of a 3% increase in revenue, tax revenue, next year,” and noted the administration included a 3% pay increase for full-time city employees. Myers said council members had emphasized raises for city staff during one-on-one budget conversations and thanked staff for compiling the proposal.

City Treasurer Marty Hensinger and City Administrator Taylor Jenkins also briefed the council. Hensinger credited the finance department and administration for preparing the budget and noted the ordinance for the rainy-day fund remains under review; the document before council includes the original ordinance language pending finalization. Jenkins said staff initially considered a 50% carryover target for the rainy-day fund but recommended 10% after examining recent transfer history; at a 10% level the recommended transfer would be about $363,000. Jenkins said the change would still represent a “major uptick” in reserves and help the city provide the planned employee raises.

Officials said the budget proposal funds roughly $1,800,000 of about $2,400,000 in capital requests. Jenkins also said the administration is working on adjusting longevity pay for employees with five or more years of service; that adjustment is not yet reflected in the proposed numbers and would add approximately $35,000 to General Fund expenditures if implemented.

The police union’s contract negotiations remain ongoing and could change the final numbers, officials cautioned. Jenkins said the document presented is not final; staff expect to publish the required budget summary in the newspaper this weekend and aim to present a final budget for adoption on June 2, pending resolution of outstanding items.

Councilors asked questions but took no formal vote on the budget at the meeting; the presentation served as the required public notice and an invitation for public review and comment before final adoption. Officials emphasized that all municipal expenditures must be appropriated in the budget and encouraged citizens to review the published summary.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City officials outlined a proposed fiscal 2025-26 budget that includes a 3% across-the-board raise for full-time employees, funds $1.8 million of $2.4 million in capital requests, and recommends a 10% transfer to the rainy-day fund; final adoption is planned for June 2 pending police contract negotiations.","taxTitle","Tahlequah, Cherokee County, Oklahoma","taxId",69051,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6228176,"Tahlequah council rejects single bid for AMPAS concession facility",99,267110,367085,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477256-21b77fb82dcc349f064ed509562ce774&start=267&end=367","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477256-21b77fb82dcc349f064ed509562ce774/thumbnail_267110.jpg","/articles/6228176/Oklahoma/Tahlequah-council-rejects-single-bid-for-AMPAS-concession-facility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228176-55a4cfc0d27e68f26cfb0501cdb0cbc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080586&Signature=BnV~7Mq0mmnAtYEsLONdSpCKGhltzD6w11LzN2dJa56HhS1QZekkfjuJ3F5GLaxKjcj6XClDfJ7IEQiz4nCo-nebKSIaaPE5wxNVN9k3jgmbbgxBkd8bSf3As48f1bYgy0my1TSNpfnwZUq78khA8lKYeZeOCw-FqJBs~OC214x37Hxej0Y7UkQhjGCdCQUBu8BLMSQJa~GBFZT5BT3jIZJKYT8if3secKGlwFPdCoNeH5iG~hKVy7HjxhnF845zekLDqoZ1bC4i0BwSZy8qWHjnbjYW86SevP2bGOmuOaLLlupoThCLADpGmoHYvs6fHTxs8tkpwy5Za3692589LQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tahlequah City Council voted to reject the single bid submitted for Bid No. 2025-3, the AMPAS concession facility, after staff recommended rejecting the offer and asked councilors to consider a broader, city-wide approach to completing the project.

City Administrator Taylor Jenkins told councilors the city received one bid for the project at $1,650,000 — about $400,000 higher than an earlier bid even after the city removed a planned second floor — and recommended rejecting the bid. “We do recommend rejecting this bid,” Jenkins said. Council members then moved and seconded a motion to reject; recorded yes votes included Councilors Allen, Carey, Baker and Mayor Suzanne Myers.

The recommendation to reject was based on the unexpectedly high price and the low level of contractor interest. Jenkins said staff had not yet had the opportunity to speak with the project architect about the cost difference and that the city is “a little perplexed” about receiving only one bid. He told the council the administration intends to reassess how to proceed and suggested a city-wide effort that could include internal staff work and public volunteers to reduce costs.

The council did not take additional action beyond the motion to reject the bid. The record does not show a named mover or seconder for the motion. There was no formal direction on a revised timetable, nor a formal commitment to a specific alternative procurement method; Jenkins indicated the administration will work on options and further conversations with the architect.

Background provided during the agenda item notes the $1,650,000 bid is roughly $400,000 more than a previous bid even after scope reductions (notably removal of the second floor). Council discussion focused on the single-bid result and the need to determine cost drivers before reissuing the project or pursuing alternative approaches.

The council moved on to other agenda items after the vote; no follow-up motion or timetable for reissuing the project was recorded in the meeting transcript.","City officials voted to reject the lone $1.65 million bid for the AMPAS concession facility after staff recommended rejection and flagged a large cost increase; staff said the project will be revisited with broader city involvement.","actionData","errors"]

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Tahlequah presents FY 2025-26 budget with 3% raises, $1.8M in capital funding and proposed 10% rainy-day transfer

Tahlequah council rejects single bid for AMPAS concession facility