Tulsa voters to consider development tax

<br>(Tulsa-AP) -- Tulsa voters will decide the fate of a 263 (M) million dollar development plan next week. <br><br>The proposal calls for a half-cent sales to raise money to expand and renovate the convention

Wednesday, November 1st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- Tulsa voters will decide the fate of a 263 (M) million dollar development plan next week.

The proposal calls for a half-cent sales to raise money to expand and renovate the convention center, build a 20-thousand-seat sports arena and have buslike trolleys to ferry passengers around town.

Tulsa Mayor Susan Savage says the proposal is an attempt to upgrade the city's facilities and address an ailing segment of the economy.

But opponents say the project will cost more than supporters are admitting.

Jim Hewgley is the treasurer of the opposition group Total Tulsa Coalition. Hewgley says arena football and minor league hockey won't consistently fill a new sports arena.

He says supporters haven't explained how the city will meet additional operations expenses.

Voters rejected a development proposal three years ago.

Here's how the proposition will appear on the November 7th ballot

"SHALL ORDINANCE NO. 19909 OF THE CITY OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ADOPTED THE 31ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2000, WHICH LEVIES AN ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY EXCISE TAX OF ONE-HALF PERCENT (.5%) OF THE GROSS PROCEEDS OR GROSS RECEIPTS DERIVED FROM ALL SALES TAXABLE UNDER THE SALES TAX CODE OF OKLAHOMA, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS THERETO, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME FROM AND INCLUDING THE 1ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2001, TO AND INCLUDING THE DATE ON WHICH THE CITY RECEIVES THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($263,300,000.00) FROM PROCEEDS DERIVED UNDER SAID ORDINANCE; ADOPTS BY REFERENCE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE TULSA SALES TAX CODE; PROVIDES PURPOSES FOR EXPENDITURE OF REVENUES; PROVIDES PURPOSES FOR EXPENDITURE OF REVENUES; PROVIDES FOR TERMINATION OF TAX; AND ESTABLISHES EFFECTIVE AND OPERATIVE DATES OF SAID ORDINANCE, BE APPROVED?"

"FOR THE ABOVE PROPOSITION"

"AGAINST THE ABOVE PROPOSITION"