Council waives rules to adopt $7.6 million supplemental appropriation from Tobacco Settlement trust on first reading

The Tulsa City Council voted to amend the FY2026–27 budget to appropriate $7,604,163.81 in expected grant revenues from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust into the social and economic development non‑federal grants subfund.

The measure (Ordinance 6a) was presented as a supplemental appropriation to recognize upcoming grant revenues that will reimburse ongoing programming. The council moved to waive City Charter and council rules and adopt the ordinance on first reading, citing the time‑sensitive nature of the incoming grant dollars as justification. A councilor explained these are belated incoming state grant dollars needed to reimburse ongoing programming. The motion passed on roll call.

The ordinance was adopted on first reading with the emergency/waiver motion recorded by roll call. Councilors asked clarifying questions about the purpose of the funds, and staff indicated the appropriation aligns with grant revenue already in the pipeline.