WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Councilors approve new hours for city employees

May 21—Tahlequah city employees on July 1 start a new work schedule, requiring them to log nine hours on four days and four hours on the fifth day.

The new hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday.

The change of operating hours at City Hall reflects a push for "work-life balance," said Human Resources Director M'Lynn Pape during a special City Council meeting Monday, May 20.

"Work-life balance and the implementing of a compressed or adjusted work schedule... has gained significant attention from municipalities, and many in Oklahoma are adopting this practice," Pape said.

Pape said 18 communities in Oklahoma have executed a modified work schedule.

"It shows the city of Tahlequah is committed to creating a work culture that supports this balance," Pape said.

A FY 2024-'25 budget item was for discussion only, and final approval by the Council is scheduled for the regular meeting on June 3, Tannehill said. One of the line items in the budget moved $1 million from the reserve fund to the general fund.

Tannehill said the emergency reserve fund is restructured in the new budget to meet requirements of an ordinance that passed in 2016.

"Currently, we've got all of our reserve funds in this separate emergency reserve fund," Tannehill said. "In the proposed budget, we are proposing to move 5% of those funds back to general and 3% of those funds back to the general fund, and labeled operating reserves and emergency reserves [respectively]. I'm not saying that is the best thing, but it meets the requirements of the law."

Ordinance 1234-2016, dated April 18, 2016, designates how reserve funds must be used.

"The city's general fund shall have an unappropriated operating reserve fund balance of at least 5% of annually budgeted expenditures, in addition to an appropriated emergency reserve account of 3% of annually budgeted expenditures," states the ordinance. "The city shall also have and there is hereby established a net revenue stabilization fund ("rainy day fund") that may be funded from revenues in excess of budgeted revenue projections, transfer of appropriations for expenditures that are less than budgeted allocations, and/or from existing general fund balance."

This transfer in the budget reflects an increase of 11.25% in available funds, but that's not the case, Tannehill said.

"Actually, the projected revenue is an increase of 3.08% or $367,000 additional funds compared to last year," Tannehill said.

Ward 2 Tahlequah City Councilor Keith Baker recommended a "continued increase of those funds" be transferred from the emergency fund into the general fund over the coming years.

One firefighter position in the Tahlequah Fire Department budget was left out, and at the formal presentation, the budget will reflect this addition, Tannehill said.

Mayor Suzanne Myers read a letter on efforts to create the new budget.

"It includes a 3% across-the-board raise for all full-time employees and some administrative changes to certain employees' pay," Myers said. "A small number of employees who have been paid significantly below an acceptable hourly wage have been increased to retain them in their position."

In 2023, the city refinanced some bond money, which provides an opportunity to invest in youth programs to make the area a destination for youth sports play, Myers said.

"We believe this will increase... tax dollars and increase our current tourism season... [to] February through October," Myers said.

Due to a change in the calendar of meetings' system on the city's website, the Daily Press was not aware of the special meeting on Monday, May 20, or the one held Thursday, April 4. Those who wish to be notified of city, board and committee meetings need to create an account and set up notifications of meetings and view agendas.

Learn more

To view the calendar and sign up for notifications of meetings, go to www.cityoftahlequah.com/730/Agenda-Minutes.

What's next

The next Council meeting is June 3 at 5:30 in Council Chambers at the City Administration Building.