Mayor Dewey Bartlett and the Tulsa City Council are hosting nine district meetings to receive public comments about capital improvements funded by the Third Penny Sales Tax and General Obligation Bond Issue. A vote is planned for November 2013.
Resolutions for the continuation of the Third Penny Sales Tax and General Obligation Bond Issue are taken to the public every five years and have passed at the ballot box since the 1980s.
Both the General Obligation Bond Issue and the Third Penny Sales Tax funding packages are expiring at the same time, so meetings are being held to discuss the needs for streets, but also for capital and infrastructure improvements.
Money from the Third Penny and GO Bond cannot pay for any City employees’ salaries. This money can only go to capital improvements that are necessary for maintenance of city facilities, roads, public safety equipment and basic upgrades and infrastructure needs.
If the resolutions are not approved on the November 6, 2013 ballot, Tulsa’s streets, city-owned facilities and public safety equipment will not be updated or purchased. Without the revenue for capital, the City will not be able to adequately maintain equipment or facilities. In addition, this could put the City of Tulsa at risk of being non-compliant with state or federal mandates.
The public meetings are being held in each of the nine City Council districts. All meetings will begin at 6 p.m. The remaining meeting schedule is as follows:
- March 11, Martin Regional Library auditorium, 2601 S. Garnett Road – District 6
- March 12, Fellowship Bible Church chapel, 5434 E. 91st St. – District 8
- March 25, Booker T. Washington High School auditorium, 1514 E. Zion St. – District 1
- March 26, Webster High School auditorium, 1919 W. 40th St. – District 2
- April 2, Whiteside Park Community Center, 4009 S. Pittsburg Ave. – District 9
- April 22, Hardesty Regional Library Frossard Auditorium, 8316 E. 93rd St. – District 7
- April 29, Hale Junior High School auditorium, 2177 S. 67th E. Ave. – District 5
- April 30, Hamilton Elementary School, 2316 N. Norwood Place – District 3
After public comment has been received at the first nine meetings, the Mayor and City Council will draft a proposed capital improvements program. This will be presented at four more citywide public meetings. When the program is finalized, it will be placed on a ballot for voter consideration in November.