BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — On March 5, Wagoner County neighbors can to the polls.
Locally they’ll vote on eight propositions concerning sales taxes. The questions concern parks, tourism, and the county courthouse. If all of them pass, sales taxes could go up as much as two cents for thirty years.
"Some of the proposals seen reasonable to me," one neighbor, Gary said, at a Broken Arrow city council meeting, "But the way they’re being pushed through, I’m just not comfortable with that at all."
Broken Arrow Mayor Debra Wimpee seems to agree with his sentiment, leading to a tense exchange with Wagoner County engineer, Rachael Cooper over whether any public hearings took place. Cooper said they did not.
However, no matter what happens at the public hearings, the questions go on the ballot as written.
Plans for the courthouse, include parking improvements and additions, as well as renovations to the courthouse building. 2 News Oklahoma talked to some people around the courthouse, including Dan Aldrdige, who lives in town.
Aldridge said he will, "probably vote for it if it’s needed and it would go to the right place."
There is also a proposition, for a new tax, to fund a county jail trust.
Cooper predicts the trust will, "create some separation and provide a professional staff that can be paid in excess of what our current staff can be paid in hopes that the professionalism and that separation would protect us and provide some liability."
The improvements needed at the courthouse are a common theme 2 News Oklahoma covered in the past. Some think $10 million will not be enough.
"That courthouse is absolutely gonna crumble around you if you spend $10 million on that and expect that to be your 30 year plan," Doug said at the city council meeting, "I don’t know if you’ve been, but $10 million won’t touch it."
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