Finance Committee reviews FYE 2027 amendment proposals including Wildcare support and micro‑transit funding
May 22, 2026 | Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma
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The City of Norman Finance Committee on May 21 reviewed four proposed amendments to the fiscal‑year‑ending 2027 budget, including requests to boost judicial pay, add funding for the wildlife‑rescue organization Wildcare, continue a micro‑transit pilot and use opioid‑settlement funds for transit vehicle modifications and staffing. The committee did not vote on the amendments and staff said members could follow up with questions before formal action.
Chief accounting staff summarized the amendments: a $10,000 general‑fund increase to support municipal court judge salary increases; a $65,000 increase in City Council outside‑agency allocations to help Wildcare offset higher operating costs; an adjustment to the transit and parking fund that adds $144,360 in reimbursement revenue and an increase of $601,502 in administrative allocations to continue the micro‑transit program (with reimbursements from the University of Oklahoma); and special‑revenue opioid‑settlement allocations of $75,000 for transit vehicle modifications plus $50,000 to better match salary and overtime needs tied to two positions added under the settlement funding.
Council members asked whether the Wildcare request should come from council allocations or be moved into the police department’s animal shelter budget. Staff said Wildcare handles roughly 350–400 animals a year and had proposed the figure as an offset to increased operational costs; the organization is also expected to seek contributions from Cleveland County. Committee members discussed alternatives including encouraging Wildcare to apply to the social voluntary services committee for funding and scaling any city contribution.
On micro‑transit, staff said the $601,502 administration allocation is the gross amount and projected revenue would reduce the city’s net cost to about $457,000. Members pressed for clearer key performance indicators for the pilot — including ridership and response time metrics — and staff said the city will issue an RFP this fall to develop a proposal for the next budget cycle and incorporate KPIs if the program continues.
Staff described the opioid‑settlement allocation as funding modifications to an existing mobile transit vehicle to serve as a mobile case‑management office and to add pay and overtime to align with positions created under the settlement. The mobile office is intended to allow on‑scene case work and referrals to treatment and recovery services.
The committee did not take formal action on the amendments during the meeting; staff asked members to submit questions before the budget is finalized so the items can be scheduled for future consideration.
Chief accounting staff summarized the amendments: a $10,000 general‑fund increase to support municipal court judge salary increases; a $65,000 increase in City Council outside‑agency allocations to help Wildcare offset higher operating costs; an adjustment to the transit and parking fund that adds $144,360 in reimbursement revenue and an increase of $601,502 in administrative allocations to continue the micro‑transit program (with reimbursements from the University of Oklahoma); and special‑revenue opioid‑settlement allocations of $75,000 for transit vehicle modifications plus $50,000 to better match salary and overtime needs tied to two positions added under the settlement funding.
Council members asked whether the Wildcare request should come from council allocations or be moved into the police department’s animal shelter budget. Staff said Wildcare handles roughly 350–400 animals a year and had proposed the figure as an offset to increased operational costs; the organization is also expected to seek contributions from Cleveland County. Committee members discussed alternatives including encouraging Wildcare to apply to the social voluntary services committee for funding and scaling any city contribution.
On micro‑transit, staff said the $601,502 administration allocation is the gross amount and projected revenue would reduce the city’s net cost to about $457,000. Members pressed for clearer key performance indicators for the pilot — including ridership and response time metrics — and staff said the city will issue an RFP this fall to develop a proposal for the next budget cycle and incorporate KPIs if the program continues.
Staff described the opioid‑settlement allocation as funding modifications to an existing mobile transit vehicle to serve as a mobile case‑management office and to add pay and overtime to align with positions created under the settlement. The mobile office is intended to allow on‑scene case work and referrals to treatment and recovery services.
The committee did not take formal action on the amendments during the meeting; staff asked members to submit questions before the budget is finalized so the items can be scheduled for future consideration.
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