A controversial decision by the Broken Arrow city council. Eleven city department heads will receive a stipend of 1-percent of their salaries. It comes at a time where the budget is almost 10-percent lower than last year. The money comes from the general fund which is generated through sales tax and utility revenue. City officials say the stipend is only fair while residents say, not right now.
Resident Roger Pricket says, "I think they should freeze it until a later date." However, city officials say it is about time. Broken Arrow Spokesperson Stephanie Higgins says, "They've not gotten any pay increase since January of 2007." She adds, "They've been cutting expenses and doing everything we've asked of them so its long overdue for them to get some sort of increase." City Councilor Richard Carter says, "It's only fair to pass a little bit to the directors and department heads for all of their efforts they've put forth and all we have asked them to do." All other city employees have received stipends since 2007.
Forty-eight positions have been cut in wake of a hiring freeze. Carter says, "Our department heads have been asked to do more work with the same salary. Their work has increased while their staff has decreased."
Resident Margaret Pricket says, "Everything is hard for everyone. It's not like they can't have it at another time... just not right now."
City employees and department heads will also receive their normal yearly pay increases.
