Voters in Edmond, Okla., last week overwhelmingly approved a 0.5% increase in the city’s sales tax to build a $25.5 million police station after rejecting a similar $31.5 million proposal in 2008 by a 61% margin.
This time, 73% of the 5,000 voters in the Oklahoma City suburb approved the measure. The tax will go into effect April 1. The new facility will include police headquarters, 13 jail cells, and an emergency communications and operations center.
Broken Arrow voters approved changes to the project list financed by a $295 million school bond program passed in 2009. The $73.5 million of modifications will allow Tulsa County Independent School District No. 3 to build two new elementary schools and convert an existing middle school into an elementary school.
Owasso’s three-part proposal to raise property taxes to support $25 million of bonds failed badly with 77% opposed.
The rejected proposals would have provided $11 million to build a soccer complex, $9 million for an aquatics center and park improvements, and $5 million for street projects.
Approval would have raised property taxes on a $150,000 home by $155 a year.
