Sales tax collections won’t cover November payroll for Tulsa County jail workers.
The county jail operations fund is more $1.2 million short for November expenditures. Tulsa County Fiscal Officer Tom Gerard told the county budget board today rising costs ate away at a financial cushion over the last four years.
"At this point, we have to look for other sources to either add to the revenue, to bridge the gap, or cut expenditures to be more in line with the revenue," Gerard said.
The jail fund borrowed $500,000 from a sheriff’s reserve fund to cover October payroll when sales tax collections weren’t enough. Gerard forecasts a $2 million shortage for jail workers’ salaries and benefits this fiscal year if the current trend continues.
The county has collected sales tax approved by voters for jail expansion, but Gerard said it’s off-limits here.
"That money is specifically designated for the expansion projects at the jail and cannot be used for any current operations, and that's part of the reason why it's held in trust outside the county," Gerard said.
The county budget board will likely use December sales tax collections to cover this month’s payroll, then try to solve the long-term problem in January.
County Assesor Ken Yazel is a member of the county budget board. He wants to consider around $2 million in unbudgeted revenues for the jail fund.
"There are items that look like they're not budgeted coming in ahead of budget, and all those are available — in my mind — as a budget board member I think should be looked at," Yazel said.
Gerard said jail operations fund revenue is short about $1.3 million right now.
