Councilor Wants One Penny Sales Tax To Help Out Police, Fire & Rec Depts.

Why not lower our sales tax? Then we'd draw shoppers from surrounding communities as well -- more $$ in the shoppers pocket(s), means they'll shop more. Also, last nights News reported 17% of our City's budget goes thoward police - in OKC it's 28% and Arlington (TX) if I recall was 31% - maybe that's the problem...their budget isn't high enough in the first place.

It amazes me that these city employees are crying because of the lay offs and having their pay cut. Why was this not an important issue to them when they choose to reside and pay their tax's into the surrounding communities instead of the city which pays their salaries? CITY EMPLOYEES ARE PAID BY SALES TAX REVENUE. I strongly disagree with bwrogers, THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PROPERTY TAX, AND YES WE DO PROVIDE THE FUNDING PRESENTLY. We provide the funding for the expense of those take-home vehicles for police and fire who reside OUTSIDE the city which should have NEVER been done in the first place. A increase in sales tax, property tax, or any tax is not the answer. The police voted for the lay offs instead of a salary cut. It was their choice, so live with the results. How about a tax increase for all the hundreds of others who have lost their jobs, and they didn't get to vote on their destiny. Their jobs and income are just as important to them as the city employees. rcreek00 you state a tax increase would be managed correctly because it goes into a fund to pay salaries. What a joke. That is precisely part of the problem now, the salaries of some of the 'ELITES' of the city hall ivory tower. They can't manage the budget now, and you want to give THEM MORE to mismanage. It will not be used for petty spending, yeah right. Let's build another ball park, or furniture for city hall. Perhaps, we can even landscape along Riverside Drive. Just be careful not to hit one of the potholes on the way. Gosh, I can't wait until the next elections, both local and nationally, because "IF THEY'RE IN, THEY'RE OUT".

Until you read the actual Tulsa FOP contract, how can you judge anything? I read a surrounding cities FOP contract and they wanted a paid day off for a cousin’s funeral. They didn't get it but it was ask for. Who knows what is in the Tulsa Police Contract that is above and beyond what needs to be paid for with tax money.

Truthfully this should be a property tax for homeowners and business within the City of Tulsa. This proposal should not be a sales tax debate. If Tulsa homeowners and Business want better fire protection, they need to provide the funding.

+8.5% WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1% = +9.5%. Sorry if the unintelligent ones don't/won't/can't see that.

I am not under a "mistaken impression" - we pay a 3% city sales tax and that was my point. Total sales tax is 8.5% but that includes State/County as you mentioned. My comment was in regards to the city sales tax, not the total. I could have been a bit more clear, but if you were intelligent I suppose you would have picked up on that.

To all those who are under the mistaken impression that we pay only 3% sales tax - look @ your receipts today. We pay +8.5% - incl. State, County & City. DOH!

20 cents (sorry) :)

This should be in strong consideration since the level of public safety has declined recently; cities like Tulsa pay a 3% sales tax where as cities like OKC pay 3.8% and Yukon/Mustang pay 4%. Even we raised it half a penny that would still generate millions of dollars that would go to a GOOD CAUSE. City employees are paid by sales tax revenue which is in the decline - YOUR safety has been compromised by this recession and we must stand strong in this time and realize what is important. If you spend $20 you pay 2 cents! No one likes the idea of raising taxes but for one, it is not that much and two it will be managed correctly as it goes into the fund that pays salaries. It will not be used for misc./petty spending as some fear. Tulsa: think about it.

OKC pays 3.8% and Yukon/Mustang both pay 4% in city sales tax as the Tulsa area is 3% - We have been a lot less than other cities for some time. I think this should be a very serious consideration as the level of public safety has declined since the election of the new mayor.