Mike Ball, a District 7 resident, submitted the following letter to the editor of the Tulsa World. It is posted here with Mr. Ball's kind permission.

I just read your Saturday [June 20] editorial entitled "Nuts!" and was disappointed. You seem to have the same dismal understanding of finance exhibited by Bill Christiansen when he gets that, "...help! Space aliens have stolen my brain, and I don’t know what I’m going to say next" look. What part of the presentation didn’t you understand? 

Do you understand that Police and Fire ("P&F") comprise more than 50% of city spending, and that any attempt to control the shortfall, must include P&F? 

1. Did you not understand that the $35 million increase in P&F spending over the last 10 years resulted in fewer P&F officers?
2. Have you not figured out that the money went to already inflated salaries?  P&F officers making $90,000 or more a year, retiring at 50% of their salary after 20 years and 75% after 30years? 
3. Are you unaware that military applicants with the lowest aptitude scores become cooks, cops or firemen?   It’s the same in real life, although some apparently find work with editorial boards of local newspapers.  P&F jobs are not difficult or extremely dangerous.  We have had more job related laundry worker, tree trimmer or convenience store clerk deaths in the last 11 years than P&F.  Fact!

You reported on June 22 that DPS spends $3.6 million annually on gasoline for 350 automobiles.  Tulsa has over 700 vehicles being driven home nightly by police and other city personnel.  Can we not save $5 million on gasoline alone?  That would be the first place I’d  look for budget savings, but it wouldn’t be the last.

Mike Ball