Norman's City Council To Meet To Discuss Police Department's Budget

The Norman City Council is holding a meeting Tuesday on the budget for next year and will address a variety of topics including how to fund the police department.

The Norman Police Department is set to receive 27% of the City's general fund. That is the largest chunk out of the fund, totaling more than $23 million.

According to the budget proposal, the police department's expenditures total $23,559,826. Public works has the next highest amount of general fund expenditures, accounting for 21% of total general fund expenditures.

Public safety (police and fire) and public works account for 68% of general fund expenditures, according to the budget.

Members of the Norman community have been attending meetings for weeks and there are differing opinions how the money should be allocated. Some said they want to see portions of the police funding should be re-directed to other areas such as addressing homelessness, mental health and other community issues.

Others argue they want to see more money for police.

"In my opinion, it would deeply divide Norman again as it did the first time, and I think the idea is because solutions already exist," said one Norman resident during the meeting.

"I am asking that they allow us to use the money to help people rather than just blindly giving to a system that is not working," another resident said.

Last year, the city council took about $865,000 from the Norman Police Department budget and used it to pay for community outreach programs and a city auditor.

The state Supreme Court scrapped that budget plan and said the vote violated the state's Open Meeting Act.

Tuesday night's budget study starts at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

The next budget meeting after that is scheduled for June 8. There will be the opportunity for additional public comment at that time.

To read more on the City of Norman's proposed budget click here. The information on the police department budget proposal begins on page 230.