Operation SAFE Cleanup Costs Spark $900,000 Dispute With Oklahoma Cities

Operation SAFE Cleanup Costs Spark $900,000 Dispute With Oklahoma Cities

The Operation SAFE cleanup costs are at the center of a growing dispute between the State of Oklahoma and its two largest cities after state officials demanded nearly $900,000 in reimbursement for clearing homeless encampments.

Letters sent by Oklahoma Chief Operating Officer David Ostrowe seek more than $523,000 from Tulsa and nearly $376,000 from Oklahoma City, arguing local governments failed to enforce public camping ordinances, forcing the state to intervene through Operation SAFE. State officials also say they plan to pursue legislation that would allow Oklahoma to recover similar cleanup costs in the future.

Operation SAFE Cleanup Costs Total Nearly $900,000

The state's reimbursement request includes $523,873.90 billed to the City of Tulsa and $375,701.21 billed to the City of Oklahoma City for homeless encampment cleanups conducted on state-owned property.

In letters sent to city officials, Ostrowe argued Oklahoma should not serve as a permanent cleanup crew for municipalities that fail to enforce local public camping laws.

Details of Operation SAFE and its homeless encampment initiative have been published by the Office of Governor Kevin Stitt, which launched the statewide effort to address encampments located on state property.

Although the letters do not require immediate payment, state officials say legislation will be introduced during the next legislative session that could authorize Oklahoma to recover past, current and future cleanup expenses when the state believes local governments have failed to act.

Tulsa Pushes Back Against State's Demand

Tulsa leaders strongly disputed the reimbursement request.

Mayor Monroe Nichols argued the state voluntarily cleaned property it already owns and maintains, making it inappropriate to bill the city afterward.

Nichols also said Tulsa already spends approximately $300,000 each year maintaining state highway rights-of-way and other state-owned property within city limits, suggesting the city could just as easily invoice Oklahoma for those services.

Reporting by Oklahoma Voice notes Tulsa officials also criticized the operational impact of Operation SAFE, saying local agencies spent additional time reconnecting displaced individuals with medications, identification documents and community services following the encampment removals.

Meanwhile, officials in Norman confirmed Operation SAFE also conducted cleanup work there but said the city has not received an invoice from the state.

Cities Await Next Legislative Battle

Oklahoma City officials have not publicly responded to the state's reimbursement request, while the Oklahoma City Police Department has also declined public comment.

The disagreement now appears headed toward the Legislature, where lawmakers may consider granting the state explicit authority to recover cleanup expenses from municipalities in future homeless encampment operations.

Information about legislation considered during upcoming sessions is published through the Oklahoma State Legislature, where any proposal involving Operation SAFE reimbursement would be introduced and debated.

The dispute marks the latest chapter in Oklahoma's ongoing debate over homelessness, public camping enforcement and which level of government should bear the financial responsibility for addressing encampments on public property.

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