HomeMy WebLinkAbout1039_Calling for Special Election_Increasing Sales Tax�1I It yr vvv ASSO, OKLAHOMA
ORDINANCE NUMBER 1039
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PROVISIONS OF PART 7, FINANCE
AND TAXATION, CHAPTER 2, SALES TAX, SECTION 7 -206, EFFECTIVE DATE,
SECTION 7 -207, PURPOSE OF REVENUES AND SECTION 7 -208 TAX RATES;
SALES SUBJECT TO TAX, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, BY LEVYING AND ASSESSING A SALES TAX OF ONE -
HALF (1/2 %) PERCENT IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER EXCISE TAXES LEVIED AND
ASSESSED UPON THE GROSS PROCEEDS OR GROSS RECEIPTS DERIVED
THEREFROM, PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREOF TO BE
RESTRICTED AS FOLLOWS: THIRTY FIVE (35 %) PERCENT (.175 CENTS) TO
OWASSO POLICE SERVICES, THIRTY FIVE (35 %) PERCENT (.175 CENTS) TO
OWASSO FIRE SERVICES, AND THIRTY (30 %) PERCENT (.15 CENTS) TO THE
OWASSO STREET DEPARTMENT; PROVIDING FOR REQUIREMENT OF
APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED REGISTERED VOTERS VOTING
AT AN ELECTION HELD FOR SUCH PURPOSES AS PROVIDED BY LAW;
PROVIDING PROVISIONS SEVERABLE; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, THAT, TO WIT:
The Owasso Code of Ordinances, Part 7, Finance and Taxation, Chapter 2, Sales Tax,
Section 7 -206, Effective Date, Section 7 -207, Purpose of Revenues, and Section 7 -208,
Tax Rates; Sales Subject to Tax, shall be amended as follows:
SECTION 1: Section 7 -206 shall be amended to read as follows:
7 -206 EFFECTIVE DATE
The provisions of this Ordinance shall become effective on and after April 1, 2015,
subject to approval by a majority of the qualified electors of the City voting on the
some in the manner prescribed by law.
SECTION 2: Section 7 -207 shall be amended to read as follows:
7 -207 PURPOSE OF REVENUES
1. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of the first and second cent sales taxes to
provide revenues for the support of the functions of municipal government of the city.
2. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of the third cent tax to provide revenues to
finance or fund capital projects and related costs, to include debt service on
obligations issued to finance said capital projects; said projects to be reviewed by the
Capital Improvements Committee, approved by the City Council by resolution, with
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Tulsa County Clerk - PAT KEY
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�1I It yr vvv ASSO, OKLAHOMA
ORDINANCE NUMBER 1039
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PROVISIONS OF PART 7, FINANCE
AND TAXATION, CHAPTER 2, SALES TAX, SECTION 7 -206, EFFECTIVE DATE,
SECTION 7 -207, PURPOSE OF REVENUES AND SECTION 7 -208 TAX RATES;
SALES SUBJECT TO TAX, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, BY LEVYING AND ASSESSING A SALES TAX OF ONE -
HALF (1/2 %) PERCENT IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER EXCISE TAXES LEVIED AND
ASSESSED UPON THE GROSS PROCEEDS OR GROSS RECEIPTS DERIVED
THEREFROM, PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREOF TO BE
RESTRICTED AS FOLLOWS: THIRTY FIVE (35 %) PERCENT (.175 CENTS) TO
OWASSO POLICE SERVICES, THIRTY FIVE (35 %) PERCENT (.175 CENTS) TO
OWASSO FIRE SERVICES, AND THIRTY (30 %) PERCENT (.15 CENTS) TO THE
OWASSO STREET DEPARTMENT; PROVIDING FOR REQUIREMENT OF
APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED REGISTERED VOTERS VOTING
AT AN ELECTION HELD FOR SUCH PURPOSES AS PROVIDED BY LAW;
PROVIDING PROVISIONS SEVERABLE; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, THAT, TO WIT:
The Owasso Code of Ordinances, Part 7, Finance and Taxation, Chapter 2, Sales Tax,
Section 7 -206, Effective Date, Section 7 -207, Purpose of Revenues, and Section 7 -208,
Tax Rates; Sales Subject to Tax, shall be amended as follows:
SECTION 1: Section 7 -206 shall be amended to read as follows:
7 -206 EFFECTIVE DATE
The provisions of this Ordinance shall become effective on and after April 1, 2015,
subject to approval by a majority of the qualified electors of the City voting on the
some in the manner prescribed by law.
SECTION 2: Section 7 -207 shall be amended to read as follows:
7 -207 PURPOSE OF REVENUES
1. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of the first and second cent sales taxes to
provide revenues for the support of the functions of municipal government of the city.
2. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of the third cent tax to provide revenues to
finance or fund capital projects and related costs, to include debt service on
obligations issued to finance said capital projects; said projects to be reviewed by the
Capital Improvements Committee, approved by the City Council by resolution, with
1
oversight given by the Citizens' Watchdog Committee established by the City Council,
and subject to competitive bidding as required by law.
3. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of the one -half cent tax to provide revenues
to fund appropriations as follows:
A. Thirty -five percent (35 %) of the one -half cent tax shall be restricted
to Owasso Police Services;
B. Thirty -five percent (35 %) of the one -half cent tax shall be restricted
to Owasso Fire Services, and
C. Thirty percent (30 %) of the one -half cent fax shall be restricted to
Owasso Street Department.
SECTION 3: Section 7 -208 shall be amended to read as follows:
7 -208 TAX RATE, SUBJECT TO TAX
There is hereby levied an excise tax of three and one -half percent (3.5 %) upon the gross
proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales taxable under the Oklahoma Sales Tax
Code including but not exclusive of the following:
1. Tangible Personal Property
2. Natural or artificial gas, electricity, ice, steam, or any other utility or public service
except water and those specifically exempt by this chapter;
3. Transportation for hire of persons by common carriers, including rail roads, both steam
and electric, motor transportation companies, taxicab companies, pullman car
companies, airlines and all other means of transportation for hire;
4. Service by telephone and telegraph companies to subscribers or users, including
transmission of messages, whether local or long distance. This shall include all services
and rental charge having any connection with transmission of any message;
5. Printing or printed matter of all types, kinds, and characters and the service of printing
or overprinting, including the copying of information by mimeograph or multigraph or
by otherwise duplicating written or printed matter in any manner, or the production of
microfiche containing information on magnetic tapes furnished by customers;
b. Service of furnishing rooms by hotel, apartment hotel, public rooming house, motel,
public lodging house or tourist camps;
7. Service of furnishing storage or parking privileges by auto hotels and parking lots;
i]
8. Selling, renting or otherwise furnishing computer hardware or software or coding
sheets, cards, or magnetic tapes on which prewritten programs have been coded,
punched, or otherwise recorded;
9. Food, confections and all drinks sold or dispensed by hotels, restaurants, or other
dispensers, and sold for immediate consumption upon the premises or delivered or
carried away from the premises for consumption elsewhere;
10. Advertising of all kinds, types and character, including any and all devices used for
advertising purposes and the servicing of any advertising devices, except those
specifically exempt by this chapter;
11. Dues of fees to clubs including free or complimentary dues or fees which shall have
the value equivalent to the charge that would have otherwise been made, including
any fees paid for the use of facilities or services rendered at a health spa or club or any
similar facility or business;
12. Sales of tickets, fees or other charges made for admission to or voluntary
contributions made to places of amusement, sports entertainment, exhibition, display or
other recreational events or activities, including free or complimentary admissions
which shall have the value equivalent to the charge that would have otherwise been
made;
13. Charges made for the privilege of entering or engaging in any kind of activity, when
no admission is charged spectators, such as tennis, racket ball or hand ball courts;
14. Charges made for the privilege of using items for amusement, sports, entertainment
or recreational activity such as trampolines or golf carts;
15. The rental of equipment for amusement, sports, entertainment or other recreational
activities, such as bowling shoes, skates, golf carts, or other sports and athletic
equipment;
16. The gross receipts from sales through any vending machine, without any deduction
for rental to locate the vending machine on the premises of a person who is not the
owner or any other deductions therefrom;
17. Gross receipts or gross proceeds from the rental or lease of tangible personal
property, including rental or lease of personal property when the rental or lease
agreement requires the vendor to launder, clean, repair or otherwise service the rented
or leased property on a regular basis, without any deduction for the cost of the
service rendered. Provided if the rental or lease charge is based on the retail value of
the property at the time of making the rental or lease agreement and the expected life
of the property, and the rental or lease charge is separately stated from the service
3
cost in the statement, bill or invoice delivered to the consumer, the cost of services
rendered shall be deducted from the gross receipts or gross proceeds;
18. Any licensing agreement, rental, lease or other device or instrument whereby rights
to possess or exhibit motion pictures or filmed performances or rights to receive images,
pictures, or performances for telecast by any method are transferred. Provided,
persons regularly engaged in the business of exhibiting motion pictures for which the
sale of tickets or admissions is taxed under this chapter shall not be deemed to be
consumers or users in respect to the licensing or exhibiting of copyrighted motion
picture features, shorts, cartoons and scenes from copyrighted features and the sale or
licensing of such films shall not be considered a sale within the purview of this chapter;
19. Flowers, plants, shrubs, trees and other floral items, whether or not some was
produced by the vendor, sold by persons engaged in florist or nursery business in this
state, including all orders taken by an Oklahoma business for delivery in another
state. Provided, all orders taken outside this state for delivery within this state shall not
be subject to the tax levied by this chapter;
20. Tangible personal property sold to persons, peddlers, solicitors or other salesmen, for
resale where there is likelihood that this state will lose tax revenue due to the difficulty of
enforcing this chapter because of:
a. The operation of the business;
b. The nature of the business;
c. The turnover of independent contractors;
d. The lack of place of business in which to display a permit or keep records;
e. Lack of adequate records;
f. The persons are minors or transients;
g. The persons are engaged in service businesses; or
h. Any other reasonable reason;
21. Any taxable services and tangible personal property including materials, supplies
and equipment sold to contractors for the purpose of developing and improving real
estate even though such real estate is intended for resale as real property are hereby
declared to be sales to consumers or users and taxable; and
22. Any taxable services and tangible personal property sold to persons who are
primarily engaged in selling their services, such as repairmen, are hereby declared to
be sales to consumers or users and taxable.
M
SECTION 4: PAYMENT OF TAX
The tax levied by this Ordinance shall be paid to the Oklahoma Tax Commission in the
manner and form prescribed by state sales tax law of the State of Oklahoma.
SECTION 5: SEVERABILITY
If any part or parts of this ordinance are deemed unconstitutional, invalid or ineffective,
the remaining portion shall not be affected but shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6: CODIFICATION
The City of Owasso Code of Ordinances is hereby amended as shown above and
codified in Part 7, Chapter 2, Section 7 -206, 7 -207 and 7 -208.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma on the al s i' day of
October, 2014.
G�T�I OF O�
OFFICIAL O
ATTEST: ('o S, JAS'
"QAH0`0"r5�
Sherry Bish6p, City
(SEAL)
w/ "
Jer8berly, Mayor
r of
APPROVED as to form and legality this day of October, 2014.
Lomba dj
Julie Lombardi
City Attorney
5
PUBLISHER'S AFFIDAVIT
ORD NO. 1039
PUBLICATION DATE(S)
01/22/15
CASE NUMBER: ORD NO. 1039
AD NO: 00192456
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
COUNTY OF Tulsa S
I, of lawful age, being duly sworn, am a legal repro:
Owasso Reporter of Owasso, Oklahoma, a weekly
of general circulation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a newsp
fled to publish legal notices, advertisements and pub
provided in Section 106 of Title 25, Oklahoma Stt
and 1982 as amended, and thereafter, and compli
other requirements of the laws of Oklahoma with r
legal publications. That said notice, a true copy c
attached hereto was published in the regular editi
newspaper during the period and time of publicatior
a supplement, on the ABOVE LISTED DATE(S)
r� 1. , QA
Representative 41nalum
Subscribed to and sworn to me this 23rd day of Jan
Notary Public
ancy Carol Moore
My commission number: 06011684
My commission expires: December 8, 2018
Customer #: 00000779
Customer: CITY OF OWASSO
Publisher's
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G -P4Y PUe' ,OO
N6.0b011684
1 12100/2018
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192456
Published in the Owasso Reporter, Owasso, Tulsa County,
Oklahoma, January 22, 2015.
CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA
ORDINANCE NUMBER 1039
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PROVISIONS OF
PART 7, FINANCE AND TAXATION, CHAPTER 2, SALES
TAX, SECTION 7 -206, EFFECTIVE DATE, SECTION 7 -207,
PURPOSE OF REVENUES AND SECTION 7 -208 TAX
RATES; SALES SUBJECT TO TAX. OF THE CODE OF ORDI-
NANCES OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, BY
LEVYING AND ASSESSING A SALES TAX OF ONE -HALF
f1/2 %) PERCENT IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER EXCISE
TAXES LEVIED AND ASSESSED UPON THE GROSS PRO-
CEEDS OR GROSS RECEIPTS DERIVED THEREFROM,
PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREOF
TO BE RESTRICTED AS FOUnVing THIRTY FIVE rA5L1
ED BY LAW;
DECLARING
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, THAT, TO
WIT:
The Owasso Code of Ordinances. Part 7, Finance and Taxation,
Chapter 2, Sales Tax, Section 7 -206, Effective Date, Section 7 -207,
Purpose of Revenues, and Section 7 -208, Tax Rates; Sales Subject
to Tax, shall be amentletl as follows:
SECTION 1 Section 7 -206 shall be amended to reatl as follows:
7 -206 FFFF TIV - DATE
The provisions of this Ordinance shall become effective on and
after April 1, 2015, subject to approval by a majority of the qualified
electors of the City voting on the same In the manner prescribed by
law.
SECTION 2- Saction 7 -207 shall be amended to reatl as follows
77 -207 PURPOSE OF REVENUES
1. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of the first and second
cent sales taxes to provide revenues for the support of the functions
of municipal government of the city.
2. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of the third cent tax to
provide revenues to finance or Pond capital projects and related
casts, to Include debt service on obligations issued to finance said
capital projects; said projects to be reviewed by the Capital
I mpravements Committee, approved by the City Council by resolu-
tion, with oversight given by the Citizens' Watchdog Committee
established by the City Council, and subject to competitive bidding
as required by law.
3. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of the one -half cent tax
18. The gross receipts tram sales through any vending machine,
wllhout any deduction for rentalto locate the vending machine on
the premises of a person who is not the owner or any other deduc-
tions therefrom;
17. Gross receipts or grass proceeds from the rental or lease of tan-
gible personal property, including rental or lease of personal prop-
erty when the rental or lease agreement requires the vendor to
launder, clean, repair or otherwise service the rented or leased
property on a regular basis, without any deduction for the cost of the
service rendered. Provided it the rental or lease chargge Is based
on the retail value of the property at the time o/ making the rental or
lease agreement and the expected life of the property, and the
rental or lease charge is separately stated from the service cast in
the statement, bill or invoice delivered to the consumer, the cost of
services rendered shall be deducted from the .gross receipts or
gross proceeds;
16. Any licensing agreement, rental, lease or other device or instru-
ment whereby rights to possess or exhibit Mellon pictures or filmed
pertormances or rights to receive images, pictures. or performanc-
as for telecast by any method are Imnsfenetl. Provided, persons
regularly engaged in the business of exhibaing motion pictures for
which the sale of tickets or admissions is taxed under this chapter
hall not be deemed to be consumers or users in respect to the
licensing or exhibRing of copyrighted motion picture features,
shorts, cartoons and scenes from copyrighted features and the sale
or licensing of such films shall not be considered a sale within the
purview of this chapter;
19. Flowers, plants, shrubs, trees and ofherfland Items, whether or
not some was produced by the vendor, sold by persons engaged In
florist or nursery business in this state, including all orders taken obyy
an Oklahoma business for delivery in another slate. Provided, alt
orders taken outside this state for delivery within this state shall not
be subject to the tax levled by this chapter;
20. Tangible personal property sold to persons, peddlers, solicttam
or other salesmen, for resale where there Is likelihood that this state
will lose tax revenue due to the difficulty of enforcing this chapter
because of:
a. The operation of the business;
o The nature of the business;
e The turnover of independent contractors;
d. The lack of place of business In which to display a permit or
keep records;
e. Lack of adequate records;
I. The persons are minors or transients;
g. The persons are engaged in service businesses; or
In. Any other reasonable reason;
21, Any taxable services and tangible personal property including
materials, supplies and equipment sold to contractors for the pur-
pose of developing and improving real estate even though such real
estate is intended for resale as real property are hereby tleclaretl to
be sales to consumers or users and taxable; and
to provide revenues to fund appropriations as follows:
22. Any taxable services and tangible personal property sold to per-
A. Thifly -five percent (35 %) of the one -half cent tax shall be
sons who are primarily engaged in selling their services, such as
repairmen, are hereby doe wed to be sales to consumers or users
restricted to Owasso Police Services;
and taxable.
B. Thirty -five percent (35 %) of the one -half cent tax shall be
SECTION 4 PAYMENT OFTAX
restricted to Owasso Fire Services, and
The tax II by this Ordinance shall be paid to the Oklahoma Tax
C. Thirty percent (30 %) of the one -half cent tax shall be restrict-
Commission in the manner and form prescribed by state sales tax
ad to Owasso Street Department.
law of the State of Oklahoma.
SECTION 3- Section 7 -208 shall be amended to read as follows SECTION 5' SEVERABILITY
7208 TAX RATE SALES SUBJECT TO TAX
There is hereby levied an excise tax of three and one half percent
(3.5 %) upon the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all
sales taxable under me Oklahoma Sales Tax Code including but not
exclusive of the following:
1. Tangible Personal Property
2. Natural or artificial gas, electricity, ice, aided, or any other utility
or public service except water and those specifically exempt by In is
chapter;
3. Transportation for hire of persons by common carriers, inclutling
rail roads, bath steam and scolds, motor transportation companies;
taxicab companies, pullman car companies, airlines and all other
means of transportation for hire;
4. Service by telephone and telegraph companies to subscribers or
users, including transmission of messages, whether local or long
distance. This shall include all services and rental charge having
any connection with transmission of any message;
5. Printing or printed matter of all types, kinds, and characters and
the service of printing or overprinting, including the copying of Infor-
mation by mimeograph or multigraph or by otherwise duplicating
written or printed matter in any manner, or the production of Micro-
fiche containing information on magnetic tapes furnished by cus-
tomers;
6. Service of furnishing rooms by hotel, apartment hotel, public
rooming house. motel, public lodging house or tourist camps;
7. Service of furnishing storage or parking privileges by auto hotels
and parking lots;
8. Selling, renting or otherwise famishing computer hardware or
software or coding sheets, cads, or magnetic tapes on which
prewrilten programs have been coded, punched, or otherwise
recorded;
9. Food, confections and all drinks sold or dispensed by hotels,
restaurants, or other dispensers, and sold for immediate consump-
tion upon the premises or delivered or carried away from the prem-
ises for consumption elsewhere;
10. Advertising of all kinds, types and character, including any and
all devices used for advertising purposes and the servicing of any
advertising devices, except those specifically exempt by this chap
ter;
11. Dues of fees to clubs Including free or complimentary dues or
fees which shall have the value equivalent to the charge that would
have otherwise been made, including any fees paid far the use of
facilities or services rendered at health spa or club or any similar
facility or business;
12. Sales of tickets, fees or othercharges made for admission to or
voluntary contributions made to places of amusement, sports enter-
tainment, exhibition, display or other recreational events or activi-
ties, including free or complimentary admissions which shall have
the value equivalent to the charge that would have othenvlse been
made;
13. Charges made far the privilege of entering or engaging in any
kind of activity, when no admission Is no 'go tl spectators, such as
tennis, racket ball or handball courts;
14. Charges made for the privilege of using items for amusement,
sports, entertainment or recreational activity such as trampolines or
golf carts;
15. The rental of equipment for amusement, sports, entertainment
or other recreational activities, such as bowling shoes, skates, gall
carts, or other spars and athletic equipment;
If any paid or parts of this ordinance are deemed unconstitutional,
invalid or ineffective, the remaining portion shall not be affected but
shall remain in full force and effect.
BECTON e: CODIFICATION
The City of Owasso Code of Ordlnances is hereby amended as
shown above and codified in Part 7, Chapter 2, Section 7 -206, 7-
207 and 7 -208.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma on
the 21 at day of October, 2014 and approved by the registered vot-
ers on the 13th day of January, 2015.
/s/ Jeri Moberly, Mayor
/s/ Sherry Bishop, City Clerk
/a/ Julie Lpmbardl, City Attorney
ill
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Owasso
FROM: Warren Lehr
City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2014-11 Calling for a Special Election
Ordinance No. 1039
DATE: October 17, 2014
BACKGROUND:
Ap,
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Y
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Currently Owasso Police Services, Fire Services, and the Streets Department operated by the City
of Owasso are funded from revenues collected and deposited in the General Fund. The primary
revenue source for the General Fund is the municipal sales tax. The City of Owasso has a three
percent (3 cents) sales tax levied on the sale of eligible goods and services. Two cents of that
tax is utilized for city operations and one cent is restricted for funding capital improvement
projects. Currently, one cent of sales tax is projected to generate approximately $8 million
annually. From the two cents sales tax dedicated to operations, the city must fund all programs
and services excluding water, wastewater, court services, ambulance services and refuse
operations. The two cent sales tax must pay for streets, drainage, parks, administration, police,
fire, planning, engineering, the community center, etc. and all insurances, fees, and other needs
of a $24 million business. Defining what are considered to be core services in a growing
community is difficult. Often, conflicting priorities force core services to compete with each other
for a limited funding source.
A growth -mode city faces challenges on every front to maintain and improve services while
functioning within a financial framework that inhibits the community from "keeping up" with that
growth and the resulting demand on its departments. Over the last several years, a goal of the
staff has been to develop additional efficiencies and /or revenues for municipal operations in
Owasso.
Oklahoma is currently the only state in the nation which statutorily requires cities and towns to
fund their general funds with the sole source being sales tax. Sales fax is a volatile revenue
source that fluctuates with the trends of the national economy. The system, as is, dictates that a
growing city will be behind in its ability to fund improved or expanded services. It is clearly
apparent that in order to meet the citizens' growing demand for services, there must be a
consideration of additional revenues for operations. Owasso citizens have recognized these
needs in past years when they gave overwhelming support for the first penny sales tax (1968),
the second penny sales tax (1973), and the third penny sales tax for funding of capital
improvements (1983).
Current funding sources are inadequate to meet the essential needs of the city due to our past,
present, and anticipated future growth. While the General Fund revenues are increasing each
year, the amount of money needed to fund public safety and transportation services grows at
on unsustainable rate. We are unable to keep up with those needs and continue to meet the
increasing demand for other municipal services.
Currently the Police services, Fire Services and Streets Department budgets account for almost
60% of the city's 2 pennies allocated for the general fund budget. This does not include the 3'd
penny dedicated solely to capital improvements projects. While those combined divisions
currently utilize the majority of general fund allocations, each is lacking in adequate manpower,
equipment, facilities and other resources needed to provide services necessary to Owasso
citizens.
The above figures are not intended to indicate that the city is not meeting its obligations to serve
the citizens, but rather to indicate that it is not realistic to expect that increasing demands for
services can continue to be met without the financial resources required for those tasks.
PROPOSED SOLUTION:
Various solutions were reviewed and time frames were developed. Possible solutions considered
were increased fees for services in all areas of municipal services, a reduction in some levels of
existing services, the elimination of some existing services, the privatization of certain city services
and an increase in the city's basic revenue source (sales tax). Staff ultimately agreed that the
most feasible and impactful solution would be to ask the voters for an additional .5 cent sales
tax. This solution has the least adverse impact on the citizens due to Owasso being a retail
shopper's destination with the majority of our sales tax revenues coming from non - citizens. This
recommendation also includes the elimination of the public safety capital fee on every Owasso
utility customer's monthly bill, saving each utility customer $36 per year.
Additional revenues from the 1/2 penny in sales tax should be dedicated to police, fire and
streets in the following manner:
0 35% (.175 cents) to the Police Services budget,
0 35% (.175 cents) to the Fire Services budget and
0 30% (.15 cents) to the Streets Department budget.
This allocation is estimated to produce approximately $4 million additional dollars in the first year
allowing for a potential $1.4 million each to both police and fire and $1.2 million to streets.
The additional 1/2 penny would not be subject to a sunset or expiration and the revenues could
be used by these divisions for any purpose. Personnel, equipment, facilities, training, etc. would
all be allowed expenditures. The dedicated monies collected annually from the 1/2 penny
would roll over from one budget year to the next for each division allowing for the opportunity to
forecast budget needs and make large acquisitions over more than one fiscal year.
It is the intention to recommend that the general fund allocation to operating budgets for Police
Services, Fire Services and Streets continue to be maintained at the current funding levels and
that new revenues generated from the 1/2 penny would be in addition to the departments'
current adopted budgets.
COLLABORATION:
There have been months of discussion and collaboration among Owasso's elected officials, staff
members, citizen groups and representatives from the local IAFF and FOP unions for the purpose
of finding needed answers to Owasso's growing concerns in the areas of public safety and
transportation infrastructure. While the addition of a 1/2 penny sales tax does not cure all the
needs of our city, it certainly gets us moving in the right direction in a manner consistent with
responsible financial management and consideration for all Owasso citizens. The efforts and
considerations of all of the participants have made this process successful up to this point and
our hope is that similar efforts will convince Owasso citizens to reinvest in their community for their
future.
TIMELINE:
Currently staff is conducting community meetings at various locations throughout Owasso for the
purpose of informing the citizens of this proposal. Community meetings will continue to be
presented through the end of the year up until the election date.
The Owasso City Council is required by Oklahoma Law to pass a resolution calling for the
election and have in place an ordinance outlining the specific ballot language by November
13, 2014, and delivered to the Tulsa County Election Board in order to conduct a special election
on January 13, 2015.
If the ballot measure were to pass by a majority vote, the new tax rate would take effect on April
1, 2015 as long as the election is certified 60 days prior to the effective date. This date coincides
with the Oklahoma Tax Commission's quarterly calendar and will allow them to make
notification to all necessary vendors in the taxing jurisdiction.
As stated in the proposed solution above, the recommendation includes the elimination of the
existing fee dedicated to the public safety capital fund. That fee is established by ordinance
and could be removed by council action should the voters approve the sales tax increase. In
the interim, a resolution will be presented for council consideration at the November 4, 2014
meeting that would assure the public of the council's desire and intent to repeal the public
safety capital fund fee.
ORDINANCE:
If approved by the voters, Ordinance No. 1039 would increase the sales tax rate from 3.0% to
3.5% effective April 1, 2015. The ordinance also states that the purpose of the new tax would be
to fund appropriations as follows:
9 35% for Police,
• 35% for Fire, and
30% for Streets.
RESOLUTION:
Resolution 2014 -11 calls the election and creates the Proposition language. Additionally the
resolution establishes the intent of the Council not to reduce the general fund appropriations to
the police, fire and street departments in future years.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends Council approval of Ordinance No. 1039 increasing the sales tax rate by 1/2%
and restricting the use of those funds to the police, fire and street departments.
Staff recommends approval of Resolution No. 2014 -11 calling a special election for January 13,
2015 submitting to the voters the 1/2 penny sales tax increase.
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance No. 1039
Resolution No. 2014 -11