Mayor Bartlett says internet sales are main cause for revenue shortfall

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett says internet sales are the main reason the City of Tulsa is running short on revenue.

"Every year, from what I'm told, the internet sales in Oklahoma, Tulsa in particular, DOUBLE," the Mayor said.

The Mayor says he'll be presenting a lean budget to the City Council in a few days.

He says it's difficult to put an exact number on the amount of sales taxes that are lost to internet sales, but he said it's estimated to be in the millions of dollars.

"That sale represents a replacement of something that would normally be bought in Tulsa, which would normally result in sales taxes," the Mayor said.

The Mayor made it clear that he's not suggesting that Tulsa raise taxes to make ends meet.

But he and the Coucilors will have to figure out something, because cities are NOT allowed to have deficit spending.