The OML Podcast

With the OML Conference one week away, Mike and Dave welcome Sarah Lingenfelter, Director of Education and Programs, and Leslie Blair, Director of Legislative Affairs and Communications, to discuss final preparations ahead of OML’s biggest week of the year. The conversation covered the conference’s mobile app, where attendees can view session descriptions and build their schedule, session highlights, including deep dives into AI and data centers, and many other events.

Inflation is normal, but the recent increase in costs feels like another level. Just look at the rising cost of fire trucks. In this episode, Mike and Dave are joined by Christian Rinehart, general counsel of OML, and Matt Sill, with the law firm Fulmer Sill. Matt discussed his research into market manipulation within the fire equipment industry, along with a current lawsuit he is leading and how it could impact cities and towns.

In a brief but big-news podcast, Mike and Dave discuss exciting changes at OML.

Logan Holt, legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice, joined the podcast gang to discuss Community Project Funding (CPF) — historically known as earmarks — and how cities and towns can apply. Holt dived into what every mayor or city manager should know before applying, and why small towns and cities that feel outnumbered by cities with lobbyists and grant writers should still pursue federal funds. “It’s absolutely the case that Congresswoman Bice wants to prioritize the underresourced cities … I would encourage them to apply,” Holt said.

Mike and Dave are joined by Sarah Lingenfelter, education director and also conference and programs manager at the Oklahoma Municipal League. Sarah discussed how the OML annual conference comes together and what to expect from this year’s conference in September. “This is the perfect opportunity to hear from your peers,” Sarah said. “No matter what your job title is, there is something new for you.”

Another episode from the City Management Association of Oklahoma Summer Conference in Enid, as Mike and Dave were joined by Justin Battles, assistant city manager in Mustang and the outgoing president of the CMAO, who talked about mental health in the city manager job. The podcast also welcomed the incoming CMAO president, Chuck Ralls from the city of Collinsville, who discussed his goals for the coming year.

Mike and Dave continued recording from Enid and were joined by the city’s mayor, David Mason, who talked about the city's growth, how they navigated a recent tornado, and other challenges faced by cities and towns across the state.

The OML Podcast hit the road for the City Management Association of Oklahoma Summer Conference in Enid. Mike and Dave were joined again by Leslie Blair, the Oklahoma Municipal League’s legislative and communications director, who offered a School House Rock version of how the state legislative process works.

Mike and Dave talk with Leslie Blair, Oklahoma Municipal League’s legislative and communications director, who not only discussed her work at OML but also provided a recap of the 2026 legislative session and its impact on municipal governments across the state. “Honestly, this was a good session for municipal government,” Blair said.

Mike and Dave finished their recap of the Mayor's Summer Conference, which was held last month.

In the first of two parts, Dave and Mike recapped the recent Mayor's Summer Conference.

Mike and Dave are joined by Christian Rinehart, the Oklahoma Municipal League’s General Counsel, to discuss city council meetings and pitfalls that can cause chaos. This discussion dives into how city leaders can avoid the most common challenges in city meetings, including key legal tips.

In this episode, Mike and Dave discuss the duties of a city manager (after a brief detour into the new Star Wars film), the difference between city managers and town administrators, and how charters affect city managers' duties. Dave even gives us the day in the life of a city manager in Oklahoma.

After weeks of talking about how cities are funded through taxes, Mike and Dave explore enterprise funds, the most business-like way municipalities are funded. This includes fees for water, trash, storm water and other utility services, including gas and broadband, which a handful of cities manage. Mike and Dave also discuss the importance of keeping up with rising utility costs and the problem many cities run into when they avoid fee increases until it’s too late.

In this ongoing series on municipal funding, Mike and Dave focus on fees and fines, which Dave promises won’t be as heated as recent episodes. Fees often draw the most pushback from residents, but Dave and Mike discuss how city leaders should respond and communicate what fees are funding. Dave also shares his disdain for city-owned pools

Mike and Dave continue their conversation on motor vehicle taxes, how it's allocated, and the impact on municipal government. They specifically dive into fuel taxes and how cities see no sales tax from auto sales.

Mike and Dave dive deep into the state’s fuel tax, how it’s allocated, and the amount cities and towns get. They also discuss how Oklahoma compares to other states when it comes to road conditions, funding and tax rates.

Oklahoma was the first state to collect sales tax and municipal finance has never been the same. Mike and Dave discuss the ins and outs and how some cities and towns get 60 to 80 percent of their general funds from sales tax.

On this return episode of The OML Podcast, hosts Mike Fina, the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, and Dave Andren, the Research Director of OML, discuss ad valorem taxes (property taxes) and the misconceptions about how municipalities can and can’t use them. Mike and Dave also talk about why it’s so difficult for cities and towns in Oklahoma to pass GO bonds.

On this return episode of The OML Podcast, hosts Mike Fina, the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, and Dave Andren, the Research Director of OML, discussed the challenges and strategies for municipal funding in Oklahoma. highlighting Oklahoma's near-last ranking in overall state funding for cities and towns. They also emphasized the need for diversified funding sources and the impact of aging infrastructure, rising public safety costs, and the regressive nature of sales tax, which Oklahoma cities and towns exclusively rely on. The conversation also touched on the historical context of municipal funding and the importance of educating the public and legislators.