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	FOX23 BREAKING WEATHER ALERT: EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING

Public Safety Tax Proposed

Reported by: Douglas Clark
Email: dclark@fox23.com
Last Update: 2/08 10:19 pm

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Public Safety Tax Proposed

One city councilor thinks safety is worth an extra one percent on top of everything you buy. Fox 23’s Douglas Clark has the story.

With 124 fewer cops on the street, firefighters taking pay cuts, and the city’s reserve fund hovering at just $1 million, Councilor Jack Henderson says the city needs to raise more money to fund public safety. So he’s proposing an additional sales tax.

The city’s cash crunch could mean taxing times for shoppers. Under a new proposal that new pair of jeans Laura Knapp just bought would cost her an extra one percent.

“That doesn’t sound like much. I could do that,” says Knapp. “I think it’s only a penny and if it’s going to pay their salaries… I don’t want to lose more policemen.”

The fourth penny tax, proposed by Councilor Jack Henderson, would hike the city’s sales tax to about 9.5%. Henderson says the three pennies now funding city services and projects are simply not enough. The fourth penny would generate more than $65 million in additional revenue to be used to re-hire laid off police officers, retain firefighters, and fund parks.

“Sounds good to me. I’d do it,” says Tulsa resident Elizabeth Cherry.

“A penny is nothing. We spend pennies on everything. I’d pay a dollar to keep me safe. We definitely have to have police officers to help us out,” says Tulsa resident Wylan Terrell.

“I’m all for it. One penny? I spend more than that on a hot fudge sundae every week,” says Tulsa resident Mary Lou Thompson.

But getting the approval of city councilors could be a challenge, since some bristle at the idea of a new tax on residents.

Councilor Henderson plans to make a formal presentation to the council Tuesday.

The sales tax increase would need voter approval.

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