Questions Over Public Safety Arise At Final Tulsa Vision Town Hall Meeting

For the last time, the public got to weigh in on the draft proposal for Vision 2025 Wednesday night.

In April, voters are set to decide if they want to extend the .6 percent sales tax. That money would go toward things like economic development, river infrastructure, and public safety operations, but some are having an issue with funding for public safety.

An open letter to the mayor and city council was recently published online. The author, a self-proclaimed Tulsan who is passionate about the city, questions why there isn't more 'vision' and why the draft includes money for operational costs.

We got some of that explained Wednesday night as the city councilors lined the stage for round three.

1/11/2016 Related Story: Tulsans Weigh In On Vision Plan Draft List

The first to speak was a representative from Smart Growth Tulsa who questioned elements of the draft, including why public safety operational costs are included in a vision packages.

That issue came up a number of times.

"Call it what it is, a way to permanently fund the city budget. It's a tax a permanent public safety tax. Why wasn't this addressed separately away from Vision 2025," said Tulsan Karen Chapman.

Councilor Phil Lakin broke that down for us, explaining the package includes two other income streams beyond Vision - the Go bond and Improve Our Tulsa.

“Those, you could say, are taking care of public safety and still taking care of vision projects in vision. It doesn't matter what income streams they're coming from, it just matters all the elements taken care of," he said.

As city leaders have been working through this, and hearing from Tulsans, several councilors told the crowd Wednesday that public safety regularly came in as a top priority, so they responded.

The council had a deadline of January 28 to finish the proposal and get the ballot language finished. They will then officially submit it February 4.