Mayor Monroe Nichols delivered his first State of the City speech Wednesday night. Speaking at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, it marked the first time in recent history the annual address from the city’s mayor was free and open to the public.
At least 400 people showed up to hear Nichols’ vision for the city. His speech came hours after city councilors paused his proposed sales tax increase, delaying a possible citywide vote past February.
Still, the mayor’s address struck a tone of resilience.
“Through the years Tulsa has faced the depths of deep struggle, and rose to the mountaintop of prosperity,” Nichols said Wednesday night. “When I took office I said progress would not come easy, or in a short time. But I promised we would never stray from challenges.”
The mayor said he wants to invest in Tulsa’s future, and that requires putting more money in the city. Here are three takeaways from his speech.
Sales tax increase on hold
Nichols was pushing for a Feb. 10 citywide vote on his proposed 0.7% sales tax increase. It would raise the city’s rate from 3.65% to 4.35% and generate $80 million a year for the city, funding anti-homelessness programs, addressing public safety issues and more.
“It was my goal to make sure that we could include that in this year’s budget, but I recognize that running a big city means there (are) a lot of opinions,” Nichols said.
After prolonged discussion Wednesday, city councilors put the proposal on hold saying they want more time to assess how the city would use revenue from the tax increase if approved.
Nichols believes he and city council members have had many conversations on generating revenue for increased investment. He says the proposed tax package is “not inconsistent” with those and resonates with what voters care about.
Ending homelessness remains a top priority.
The mayor’s proposed sales tax increase would’ve contributed more than $27 million to a program aimed at eliminating homelessness by 2030.
Safe Move Tulsa — which has a goal to move 300 people into housing in the next nine months — kicked off last week with an initial $10 million from private donations and various relief funds.
“We have seen the human costs and the faces of people that have nowhere to go. But what sets us apart is our willingness to end it,” Nichols said during the speech. “It is about connecting our homeless neighbors with housing and services.”
Clutch Consulting, a Houston-based agency, advised the city on a $60 million three-year plan to end homelessness.
There are three phases for the plan: obtain resources to fund relief efforts for homeless individuals, orchestrate preventive plans to eliminate street sleeping and efficiently find stable housing for residents in need.
This month, the city closed Eagle’s Nest, a popular homeless encampment site near the south end of the River Spirit Casino. The 25 people who were living at the encampment site were all transitioned to housing, Nichols said.
The city is also set to open a winter shelter Nov. 17.
Shifting public safety in Tulsa
Nichols plans to change how first responders handle people with mental health issues and increase the police budget.
Tulsa’s Police Department is “understaffed,” Nichols said. Even though crime has decreased, Nichols says he still wants to increase the number of officers in the department.
Nichols plans to invest $22 million into public safety to increase officer and firefighter salaries, address downtown safety concerns and fund community violence intervention plans.
“Investing in those who protect us every day is critical in Tulsa and it’s time we get it done without delay,” the mayor said.
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