Norman city sales tax fails
The Norman Transcript
Transcript Staff Writer
Voters rejected Norman's temporary, five-year, half-cent sales tax Tuesday, after the Citizens for Financial Responsibility successfully campaigned against it by blistering city leaders on the lack of specific ballot language.
Unofficial tallies show voters rejected the tax by a 9,780 to 4,616 margin, with 67.94 percent voting against and only 32.06 percent supporting the measure.
The current half-cent temporary tax expires Sept. 30.
The funds would have provided an additional 37 police and seven firefighters and other key personnel including animal control, public works and parks crews.
Sylvia Martin, a longtime council watcher who campaigned against the proposal, said she was shocked at the margin of defeat. "I think the public is fed up, especially with this economic development," she said.
Mayor Harald Haralson said he was disappointed. "I don't think the need is any less," he said, adding the council will now consider bringing the question back with other options.
Norman Fire Chief James Fullingim said he didn't believe this is the end of the matter. "We are going to continue to do our jobs as effectively as we can and move toward the future. This gives us the opportunity to re-evaluate the future and continue planning."
Police Chief Phil Cotten said he was disappointed and was depending on the people who said they'd come back quickly with another proposal.
Economic development would have received $5 million over the five-year period, administered by the Norman Economic Development Coalition.
Another $1 million would have gone into an emergency reserve fund, in case of events like tornadoes or floods.
Opponents of the tax cited ballot language that only guaranteed that the funds would be spent for a "lawful purpose."
"No Blank Checks!" headlined their literature, which was critical of the current city council for spending about $1 million for a downtown parking lot and $2 million they deemed wasted by hiring a consultant to come up with a wastewater solution and then choosing a different solution than recommended.
They also were critical of the council's approval of the University North Park Tax Increment Financing District No. 2, calling it a $100 million mistake.
City Clerk Mary Hatley said the earliest the sales tax could be voted on again would be a special election Jan. 9, which would require an Oct. 10 first reading of ballot language by council.
More likely, she said the city would bring forward the half-cent sales tax March 6, when the mayor and councilmembers in odd-numbered wards will be up for election in a citywide vote. First reading of ballot language for that date would be Dec. 12.
In Newcastle, voters rejected a one-fourth of a cent sales tax proposition 473 to 370. The money would have funded municipal capital improvements.
Carol Cole 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com
The Norman Transcript
Transcript Staff Writer
Voters rejected Norman's temporary, five-year, half-cent sales tax Tuesday, after the Citizens for Financial Responsibility successfully campaigned against it by blistering city leaders on the lack of specific ballot language.
Unofficial tallies show voters rejected the tax by a 9,780 to 4,616 margin, with 67.94 percent voting against and only 32.06 percent supporting the measure.
The current half-cent temporary tax expires Sept. 30.
The funds would have provided an additional 37 police and seven firefighters and other key personnel including animal control, public works and parks crews.
Sylvia Martin, a longtime council watcher who campaigned against the proposal, said she was shocked at the margin of defeat. "I think the public is fed up, especially with this economic development," she said.
Mayor Harald Haralson said he was disappointed. "I don't think the need is any less," he said, adding the council will now consider bringing the question back with other options.
Norman Fire Chief James Fullingim said he didn't believe this is the end of the matter. "We are going to continue to do our jobs as effectively as we can and move toward the future. This gives us the opportunity to re-evaluate the future and continue planning."
Police Chief Phil Cotten said he was disappointed and was depending on the people who said they'd come back quickly with another proposal.
Economic development would have received $5 million over the five-year period, administered by the Norman Economic Development Coalition.
Another $1 million would have gone into an emergency reserve fund, in case of events like tornadoes or floods.
Opponents of the tax cited ballot language that only guaranteed that the funds would be spent for a "lawful purpose."
"No Blank Checks!" headlined their literature, which was critical of the current city council for spending about $1 million for a downtown parking lot and $2 million they deemed wasted by hiring a consultant to come up with a wastewater solution and then choosing a different solution than recommended.
They also were critical of the council's approval of the University North Park Tax Increment Financing District No. 2, calling it a $100 million mistake.
City Clerk Mary Hatley said the earliest the sales tax could be voted on again would be a special election Jan. 9, which would require an Oct. 10 first reading of ballot language by council.
More likely, she said the city would bring forward the half-cent sales tax March 6, when the mayor and councilmembers in odd-numbered wards will be up for election in a citywide vote. First reading of ballot language for that date would be Dec. 12.
In Newcastle, voters rejected a one-fourth of a cent sales tax proposition 473 to 370. The money would have funded municipal capital improvements.
Carol Cole 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com