Oklahoma County Commission puts sales tax to fund jail on ballot

Oklahoma County Detention Center

Oklahoma County commissioners on Wednesday agreed to ask voters to approve a sales tax that would complete financing and provide operating funding for a bond-financed replacement jail.   

In a series of 2-1 votes, a 25-year, 0.4% sales tax was placed on the Nov. 3 ballot that would be expected to raise about $70 million annually, with $44 million earmarked for debt service and $26 million for operations. 

"Hopefully, this will be our attempt to finally bring forward a practical plan to the community to consider in November," Commission Chair Brian Maughan said. "I believe this will have community support and backing, so that it actually has a coalition of supporters that will help with advocating this."

County voters approved $260 million of general obligation bonds in June 2022 for what was then a $316 million jail that is now projected to cost as much as $860 million.

Previous proposals for a sales tax solution to address the project's soaring price tag failed.

Commissioner Jason Lowe, who earlier this year unsuccessfully pushed for a 0.625% permanent sales tax ballot measure and cast the sole no vote on Wednesday, contended the lower tax rate would not raise sufficient revenue for the jail and its diversion, rehabilitation, and other programs.

While Interim Commissioner Paul Foster supported the latest ballot proposal, he raised concerns about inflation and what will happen after the tax expires in 25 years.

 "Yes, the detention center will be fully paid for at that time, but the county will have to go back to the taxpayers once again to ask for a lower amount to continue to cover maintenance and operations, so we end up leaving that problem essentially to the next generation," he said, 

In 2023, the county issued $45 million of the GO bonds. The remaining $215 million were sold competitively to BofA Securities in October.

The county plans to replace its 13-story detention center in downtown Oklahoma City — which opened in 1991 and has been under state and federal scrutiny for health, safety, and other concerns — with a jail that includes medical and mental health treatment.