From the streets of Sand Springs, to the shops that line them, the decline in spending is affecting the entire city.
"We've actually had to have some minor layoffs here, that's the first time in history," said Doug Envoldsen, the City Manager for Sand Springs.
That's because when people spend less, the city gets less in sales tax.
Envoldsen says Oklahoma is the only state in the country where core service employees, like police and fire, are paid mainly through sale tax.
"Cities are cutting back spending in all areas to try to conform to the depressed amount of revenues that are coming in that strains their ability to meet the demand for public services," said Envoldsen.
Meanwhile, over in Tulsa County, it's a much different story.
Employees not only were spared from layoffs but the county hasn't had to make cutbacks on travel or raises.
The reason has to do with the fact that they're funded by property tax not sales tax.
"Property tax is very stable," said Terry Simonson, a spokesperson for Tulsa County.
Still, the cities within the counties continue to struggle, that's why Envoldsen would like to see a change, and it's up to the legislature to do it.
Representative Fred Jordan of Jenks sees the need.
He proposed legislation that would've given some of the sales tax money you pay to the state, back to cities.
Jordan says there was a lot of support for it, but it didn't pass.
Still, he believes there's a need and hopes it gets before the legislature again.
Jordan says with state revenues down, he doesn't think the sales tax notion will be brought up this session, still Envoldsen is hopeful it will be brought up in the future.
Below is a look at how much sales tax has changed for municipalities in Tulsa County from July 2008 through September 2008 compared to July 2009 to September 2009.
City of Tulsa: -9%
Bixby: -8%
Broken Arrow: -2.2%
Collinsville: -1.4%
Glennpool: 2.6%
Jenks: -1.36%
Owasso: 0.64%
Sand Springs: -6%
Skiatook: -4%
Sperry: 8.5%
