Town Hall: Third Penny Sales Tax...

[Rico]

PRESS RELEASE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

200 Civic Center * Tulsa, Oklahoma * 74103

Date: August 30, 2005

Contact: Kim MacLeod, Community Affairs, 596-7803 / 527-0164

MAYOR ANNOUNCES THIRD PENNY TOWN HALL SERIES

Mayor Bill LaFortune announced today he will hold a series of five Town Hall meetings beginning September 6 at libraries throughout the city to discuss the extension of the third penny sales tax. The third penny of the City of Tulsa sales tax pays for essential capital improvement projects throughout the community. These projects typically include upgrades to infrastructure, including street widening and rehabilitation, capital equipment for police and fire departments, park enhancements and improved public facilities.

The public meetings will be held in five sections of the city. All meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m.
The schedule is as follows:

September 6 * Zarrow Regional Library, 2224 West 51st Street

September 7 *Aaronson Auditorium, Central Library, Fourth Street and Denver Avenue

September 12 * Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 North Hartford Avenue

September 13 * Martin Regional Library, 2601 South Garnett Road

September 19 * Helmerich Library, 5131 East 91st Street

The third penny was initially passed to fund capital improvements in 1980. Every five years, Tulsa citizens have an opportunity to vote on a new package of proposed projects.
The 2001 recent sales tax raised $315 million in revenue for approved projects. Since its inception, the third penny has generated $1.3 billion in revenue for capital improvement projects in Tulsa.
Typically, the Mayor's staff selects projects that are already part of the City's capital improvement program, adopted by the City Council on an annual basis. The projects are selected based on the need, the benefit to the city and criteria related to the condition of the existing infrastructure or amenities. The staff presents the proposed projects to the City Council in public committee, and later joins with the Councilors to present the projects to the public in each of the nine Council districts.

Citizens also have an opportunity to address the Council during a public hearing held when it considers the project list. The proposed package is then placed on a ballot for a public vote.


For the first time, based on Mayor LaFortune's initiative, the administration wants public input at the front end of the process, while the package is still in the draft stages.
Mayor LaFortune said, "Citizens know best what their most important infrastructure needs are. I am inviting all citizens to the meetings to provide their input and to share my vision for the future of the City of Tulsa directly with them".