From OML Executive Director Carolyn Stager

I was delighted to participate in the Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) 25-Year Awards for the Cities of Woodward, Edmond and Oklahoma City.  Participating and thanking the municipal officials who have given a quarter-of-a century of their lives to making their communities a better place to live and work is personally rewarding and a privilege.  Congratulations to all 25-Year Awards recipients!

OML training is in full swing, having recently hosted three training events in less than one week. The Annual Budget Workshop conducted by Mike Crawford was a huge success, in spite of being rescheduled due to one of the many ice/snow storms our state encountered during these past few months.  The New Officials Institute (NOI) was held in Stillwater, and the City of Moore hosted a Retail Summit for OML.  Each event was highly attended, proving once again that OML members are knowledge seekers. We endeavor to keep OML training on the cutting edge, providing our members with knowledge in areas they need, want, and require.

The Mayors Council of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Municipal League (MCO/OML) Day at the State Capitol is March 22, and it is quickly approaching.  We will once again honor a first, second and third-place winner of MCO/OML’s “If I Were Mayor . . .” contest.  While this is only the second year we have hosted the event, over 280 essays were submitted for the contest which rewards winners with cash and prizes. We are very excited to have the “If I were Mayor . . . “ contest as part of the day’s program.  The Day at the Capitol morning sessions will offer in-depth information on timely legislative issues, which you may discuss with your house and senate members during an afternoon visit.  Please make plans to attend. We will cap off this day with our legislative reception at the Faculty House. 

Cites and towns are the economic engines of the state.  Without healthy cities and towns, Oklahoma cannot be a healthy state.  I want to continue to challenge the municipal officials around the state to continue to remind your elected officials – and equally important, your constituents – that Oklahoma is the only state where cities and towns do not receive ad valorem monies for general operations. 

The entire OML staff is heavily engaged in some form of the legislative process; whether collecting and ensuring each and every bill is received and read to boots on the ground daily at the state capitol.  It takes each of us along with each of you to ensure the elected legislative officials understand how each vote they make affects the community in which we all live.

Thanks to Mayors Mick Cornett and Dewey Bartlett for co-chairing the newly-formed Municipal Revenue & Efficiencies Task Force to develop ideas and proposals for diversifying municipalities’ revenue sources.  This nine-member task force will look at ways to enhance collection and enforcement of municipal taxes and use taxes, possible funding sources for public safety, ways to capture taxes on remote sales and ideas for achieving cost-saving efficiencies in municipal operations.

Working together, cities and towns can affect change in a mighty way.  Thanks to all of you for the roles you play each and every day!