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Oklahoma City Council sets March 3 election on parks initiative

William Crum
by William Crum
Published: Tue, December 17, 2019 2:44 PM Updated: Tue, December 17, 2019 3:43 PM
Parks Director Doug Kupper visited Woodson Park soccer complex in 2018. An initiative sponsored by former Ward 2 City Councilman Ed Shadid would create a dedicated sales tax for Oklahoma City parks. [Photo by Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman]
Parks Director Doug Kupper visited Woodson Park soccer complex in 2018. An initiative sponsored by former Ward 2 City Councilman Ed Shadid would create a dedicated sales tax for Oklahoma City parks. [Photo by Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman]

Oklahoma City voters will decide March 3 whether to increase the sales tax by an eighth-of-a-cent with proceeds dedicated to park programs and improvements.

The Oklahoma City Council set the date at Tuesday’s meeting. 

A one-eighth-cent sales tax would bring in $1.1 million to $1.2 million per month, an increase of a third or more in the parks and recreation budget.

The proposed dedicated fund is analogous to the one-eighth cent voter-approved sales tax that helps to fund the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Former Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid led an initiative drive for the measure. Petition signatures were turned in Dec. 2 and verified Friday.

Shadid needed 6,499 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

If approved by voters, the sales tax rate would increase to 8.75% overall. The state takes 4.5%; the city's share would increase to 4.25%.

The last time voters raised Oklahoma City's sales tax rate was September 2017, when they approved a quarter-cent increase for public safety.

Former Ward 4 Councilman Pete White thanked the council for getting the parks question to the ballot quickly. Advocates have about 75 days to organize a campaign and persuade voters to adopt the measure.

Related Photos
Parks Director Doug Kupper visited Woodson Park soccer complex in 2018. An initiative sponsored by former Ward 2 City Councilman Ed Shadid would create a dedicated sales tax for Oklahoma City parks. [Photo by Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman]

Parks Director Doug Kupper visited Woodson Park soccer complex in 2018. An initiative sponsored by former Ward 2 City Councilman Ed Shadid would create a dedicated sales tax for Oklahoma City parks. [Photo by Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman]

<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-26cb9bd4324005e35a8460245a684486.jpg" alt="Photo - Parks Director Doug Kupper visited Woodson Park soccer complex in 2018. An initiative sponsored by former Ward 2 City Councilman Ed Shadid would create a dedicated sales tax for Oklahoma City parks. [Photo by Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman]" title="Parks Director Doug Kupper visited Woodson Park soccer complex in 2018. An initiative sponsored by former Ward 2 City Councilman Ed Shadid would create a dedicated sales tax for Oklahoma City parks. [Photo by Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Parks Director Doug Kupper visited Woodson Park soccer complex in 2018. An initiative sponsored by former Ward 2 City Councilman Ed Shadid would create a dedicated sales tax for Oklahoma City parks. [Photo by Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure>
William Crum

OU and Norman High School graduate, formerly worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press, the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, and the Norman Transcript. Married, two children, lives in Norman. Read more ›

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