The Oklahoma City Council voted to call a special election Sept. 12, 2017 for voters to consider investing more than $1.2 billion in critical infrastructure like streets and sidewalks, including an annual $26 million boost for public safety and other day-to-day operations.

The Council approved three proposals to present to voters:

• A 10-year, $967 million bond package to invest in streets, police and fire facilities, parks and other basic needs. The bond package will succeed the almost-complete 2007 bond program.
• A temporary, 27-month continuation of the expiring MAPS 3 penny sales tax to fund $240 million for street resurfacing, streetscapes, trails, sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure.
• A permanent ¼ cent sales tax to fund $26 million annually in police services, fire protection and other critical services.

Oklahoma City voters approved all of the measures.

For the bond program, the money comes from property taxes. About 14 percent of your property tax goes to the City of Oklahoma City, and the rest goes to schools, the county and other government entities. For example, the owner of a $150,000 house pays about $248 each year for Oklahoma City’s portion of the property tax. The City uses the money to pay for bonds. 

For the sales tax initiatives, the money comes from purchases of goods and services within Oklahoma City limits or online sales subject to local sales tax.

The permanent ¼ cent sales tax is invested in the City’s General Fund. About two thirds of the General Fund goes to public safety services, with the rest paying for other basic services like animal control, parks and transit.

The Council intends to use the funds to hire 129 additional police officers, and hire 57 more firefighters to staff two additional fire stations and bring an idled fire engine back into service. The funds allow the Council to restore essential services reduced while sales tax declined.

The permanent ¼ cent sales tax adds an estimated $26 million per year to the General Fund.

Over 27 months, the temporary penny sales tax will generate $240 million of revenue for better and safer streets, sidewalks and trails for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

It will fund $168 million for street resurfacing, $24 million for streetscapes, $24 million for sidewalks, $12 million for trails and $12 million for bicycle infrastructure.

The debt-free projects will create smooth and safe streets for drivers, on-street amenities for recreational and commuting cyclists, and streetscapes and trails that protect pedestrians and cyclists and enhance opportunities for economic development. 

The bond package is for basic needs and critical infrastructure every community needs for stability, growth and safety. It's funded by property taxes, whereas MAPS programs have been funded by a sales tax.

The permanent sales tax is different from MAPS programs because it's a permanent tax dedicated to police, fire and other day-to-day City services. MAPS programs have been temporary taxes for ambitious capital improvement projects that improve our quality of life.

The temporary sales tax extension is similar to the temporary public safety sales tax program that came before MAPS for Kids. The temporary penny sales tax extension and the previous temporary public safety taxes are both shorter than MAPS programs and fund important capital projects -- in this case, streets, sidewalks, trails and bicycle infrastructure -- without borrowing money.

The City of Oklahoma City is primarily funded by taxes. Sales tax revenue makes up most of the General Fund, which pays for the City's day-to-day operations. Other important sources of revenue include use tax, property tax and hotel/motel tax.

With the 1/4 cent sales tax increase approved as part of the Better Streets, Safer City election, the local sales tax in Oklahoma City is 4.125 percent. Of that, 2 1/4 cents goes to the General Fund, 3/4 cent goes to Public Safety, 1/8 cent goes to the OKC Zoo, and 1 cent goes to MAPS 3.

Property taxes finance general obligation bonds, which voters approve for specific capital projects. It is a common misconception that property taxes help pay for the City’s core services. Although this is true in many states, cities and towns in Oklahoma are not allowed to levy property taxes for day-to-day operations.

Hotel/Motel Tax helps promote OKC as a tourism and convention destination and is charged for hotel stays. Bringing tourism and conventions to OKC helps boost our economy.

Use tax is due on goods purchased outside of Oklahoma and brought into Oklahoma City and consumed in situations when no sales tax was charged. An example is something you buy online from another state and no sales tax is charged, but you use the item in OKC once it's delivered.