City councilors, mayor work together for public safety improvements

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett is proposing the city use part of a soon-to-expire tax and put it toward public safety.

Mayor Bartlett says the tax would help pay for more police officers and firefighters, as well as dedicated crews to work on the city’s ailing streets.

Now, the Tulsa City Council has formed a taskforce to study the city’s true need. Councilors want to find out exactly what the city needs before committing to the tax proposal.

“We want to understand public safety from an all-encompassing standpoint.” Tulsa City Councilor Gt Bynum said.

Bynum told KRMG they will look into the city’s need for improved traffic engineering. They will also make sure police officers and firefighters have the resources they need to do the most effective job.

The taskforce will meet over the next few months and coordinate with Mayor Bartlett along the way.