{"id":925,"date":"2025-02-26T19:51:54","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T19:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awakeoklahoma.com\/?page_id=925"},"modified":"2025-03-11T02:08:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T02:08:01","slug":"tulsa-area","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/awakeoklahoma.com\/index.php\/tulsa-area\/","title":{"rendered":"TULSA AREA"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Tulsa County Issues<\/span><\/h1>\n

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Tulsa County Commissioners Eye New Transparency Office to Boost Accountability to Taxpayers<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

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Tulsa County Commissioners are set to discuss the creation of the Office of Government Efficiency and Transparency (OGET), a move designed to expand public access to county operations and improve accountability. The proposal by Commission Chairman Lonnie Sims, states that OGET would mirror the state’s Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), providing regular reports on county programs and flagging changes at the national, state, and local levels that could affect county services.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

Commissioner Sims commented,<\/p>\n

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\u201cI have watched what has been happening at the federal and also at our state level utilizing LOFT and realized we needed something here at the local level that would help us get better information so we can make better decisions. Times have changed and we need to be more responsive and transparent with our constituents. OGET will help us have better efficiency, keep track of budget changes and better serve the people of Tulsa County.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Transparency as a Core Principle<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

For over a decade, Oklahoma has shifted toward greater government accountability, with initiatives like LOFT setting the standard. LOFT’s mission is to deliver \u201ctimely, objective, factual, non-partisan, and easily understood information\u201d to support informed decision-making. Its work includes analyzing government performance, identifying waste, and recommending operational improvements. OGET would follow suit.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

OGET: Local Accountability<\/u><\/u><\/b><\/h3>\n

While Tulsa County maintains several online portals for public information, there\u2019s currently no centralized system tracking the progress of county programs. OGET aims to fill that gap, offering a user-friendly dashboard to keep both officials and residents informed.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Commissioner Sims emphasized that OGET aligns with national and state efforts, including President Trump\u2019s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Oklahoma\u2019s LOFT program. \u201cIt\u2019s about efficiency, accountability, and making sure government works for the people\u2014not the other way around,\u201d Sims added.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Commissioner Kelly Dunkerley agreed with Sims\u2019 OGET proposal saying,<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s a real need to provide more transparency and better access to information for citizens for awareness and to increase trust in how tax dollars are being utilized to improve roads, support public safety and enhance economic opportunities.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The draft description of OGET highlights its mission to advance \u201ctransparency, performance, cost-effectiveness, and service quality of county operations,\u201d with a focus on collaboration and streamlined processes. So far all three county commissioners have verbally said they will support this proposal for transparency.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

But back in December,\u00a0we uncovered a plot<\/a>\u00a0where former Democrat Commissioner Karen Keith was working with Commissioner Stan Sallee (R) to create a new position to keep her Chief Deputy, a liberal Democrat, employed at the county, that was not transparent. It was a behind-the-scenes effort to keep Rea in a salaried position after both Keith\u2019s and Rea\u2019s failed elections removed them from their roles.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:\u00a0Tulsa County Hiring Questioned<\/a><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Now, weeks later, some of Sallee\u2019s actions seem to be standing against retooling an existing government liaison position to be focused on transparency and efficiency, similar to President Donald Trump\u2019s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

However, after a call to his office Sallee issued the statement, \u201cLike President Trump and Elon Musk, I support continued efforts to review operations and provide better efficiency in county government.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

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\u201cSince being elected, I continue to work with our state auditors and elected officials in reviewing all departments for efficiency and transparency. I welcome any additional audits and reviews.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As discussions continue, we will watch for the outcome of this new office from Commissioners Stan Sallee, Lonnie Sims, and Kelly Dunkerley in upcoming meetings and whether they will follow with the creation of OGET and making Tulsa County a model for local government transparency in Oklahoma.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

ACTION STEP:<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Please send a message to the Tulsa County elected officials<\/strong> with their contact information below in support of the creation of the Oklahoma DOGE office for accountability and transparency.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Subject line: Please support OGET for Tulsa!<\/strong><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Sending emails is the best way to let them know we want them to make a difference in how our government works and how it can better provide better and more meaningful transparent information.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n