Sales taxes

[joiei]

I just bought a couple of tickets to this event and they charged me a 10% state sales tax.  When did they start charging that much for sales tax in Drumright?  

Third Annual
"A Walk In The Clouds" Harvest Champagne Brunch"!

On a cool Saturday morning experience "A Walk in the Clouds Harvest
Champagne Brunch". This is a very special event that you won't want
to miss! "This was one of the coolest events I've ever attended"

Learn how to harvest, watch the crush and enjoy the good life
complete with live music, beautiful champagne brunch and free
samples of over a dozen wines!

When? We will harvest on a cool Saturday morning in late
August/early September 9:00 AM until noon.

-Grape Harvest Demonstration
- One Hour Grape Harvest of the Estate Cabernet Franc
- Watch the 'Crush" Where Grapes Begin to Become Wine!
- Hearty Full Champagne Breakfast Brunch
- Live Music
- Free Wine Tasting of Over a Dozen Wines
- Only $24.95 per person

Tickets are just $24.95 plus tax, per person Purchase your tickets
online today or call toll free 866 258 1903 for more information


Reserve your tickets online today!
http://www.tidalschool.com

[cannon_fodder]

For what's it's worth, this website indicates a 10% tax in Drumright (zip 74030):
http://www.zip2tax.com/

Not sure where to look up "official" sales tax information.  That website had Tulsa's correct rate, so... yeah.  10% I guess.  Simple math!

[Red Arrow]

They probably want to fix their roads. []

[joiei]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

For what's it's worth, this website indicates a 10% tax in Drumright (zip 74030):
http://www.zip2tax.com/

Not sure where to look up "official" sales tax information.  That website had Tulsa's correct rate, so... yeah.  10% I guess.  Simple math!

Thanks for that link, I think I will hang on to it, never know when one needs to know stuff like that.  Wow, 10% in Drumright, makes Tulsa look better already.

[sgrizzle]

Wow.. they must've never met a tax they didn't like.

Maybe we should add 1c to drumright's sales tax to pay for Tulsa roads. They likely wouldn't notice.

[Gaspar]

Wow 10%.  How is economic development in ol Drumright?

[sauerkraut]

10% ~ Ouch, that's alot. Texas has 8.5% sales tax but they don't have a income tax and they don't tax food. Oklahoma has heavy sales tax no question about that. I dis-like all the toll roads they have in Oklahoma myself.[xx(]

[mrhaskellok]

IF, and that is a big IF, they are spending the money and real needs, then HOORAH for Drumright!

A few problems are plaguing our small towns...
-a stead growth in big cities the last couple decades
-an exodus from small towns to get closer to retail and job centers
-a hike in state, county, and federal regulations and taxes
-a lack of desire to increase revenues through taxes and rates in small towns to compensate for the loss of gross revenue.

Result:  A lot of small towns way behind on infrastructure and Economic Development initiatives.  Thus, every small town is trying to (1) Raise revenues (2) attract new businesses.  EVERYONE is doing this right now and for the most part it is the priority.

You mentioned Texas... one thing most people don't understand is that towns in Oklahoma don't get property taxes like they do in many many other states (like Texas).  The two primary ways that towns (including their respective PWs)generate revenue is through sales tax and utility rates.  Unless you are a huge city like Tulsa and have an entire legal staff that can write all the piles of paperwork needed to create special assessment districts, TIFS, and others, you are most likely going to resort to rates or taxes.  Haskell just raised it's sales tax to 9.5% and people are asking at town hall meetings if we can raise it more to generate the funds needed to actually fix things.  I love paying 9.5 and would personally pay more knowing that we are actually using the funds to fix stuff.  It is the only way we are going to get it done so there's no use crying over spilled milk.

It is kinda ironic... I pulled a community survey (done by a utility company) that was done of Haskell back in the 70's.  In it, they identified the towns weaknesses.  The top two given were the same that we identify today.  In other words, in 30 years we never raised sales taxes and barely raised utility rates to actually fix the problem they all knew about back then (before I was even born).
I, and the vast majority of our community, voted yes on the new tax, resolved not to pass these problems on to the next generation.  
Drumright is probably just positioning itself too to be able to really attract residents and businesses.  

[TeeDub]

http://oktax.geo.ou.edu/index.htm

[Lora]

The event does sound cool. A relaxed and inexpensive way to spend a Saturday morning.

[mrhaskellok]

Yeah, it does sound cool...I am in Austin so I wont be making it.  Post on the forum and let us all know how it was.  

PS  Austin is doing some really cool stuff down here with their zoning codes.  The place is looking great!

[Conan71]

Awesome, have people pay you $25 a head to come pick your grapes! [}:)]

(really does sound like a cool event for the $$)