River Development Plan Moving Forward

Monday, August 20th 2007, 8:52 pm

By: News On 6

The Tulsa Metro Chamber has rubber-stamped the Arkansas River development plan put forth by Tulsa County Commissioners. The chamber announced their endorsement of the plan in a press conference Monday after conducting their own economic impact study. News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren reports the chamber says this plan will be worth taxpayer dollars in the long run.

"The business community both large and small are standing together, shoulder to shoulder, and saying yes to our river," chamber chairman Chet Cadieux said.

Shoulder to shoulder they stood, at a press conference announcing the anticipated endorsement of the Arkansas River proposal. Itâ€™s a proposal, and an endorsement, Tulsa County Commissioner Randi Miller is proud of after years of a hard work.

"This is the business leaders and they know how important it is to grow their business, their private business, and to recruit business to Tulsa County for all of us to grow," said Randi Miller, Tulsa County Commissioner.

The plan is to funnel $786 million into river development over a seven-year span. The Tulsa Chambers' economist says that investment will create more than 9,000 jobs and an income of more than a billion dollars. He says the total economic impact to the Tulsa region will be at least $2.8 billion by 2014.

"Its always gratifying to know that when you crunch your numbers that someone's going to be interested in them, and itâ€™s always especially gratifying to know that when they're crunched they give a result that you feel good about," chamber economist Robert Ball said.

But not everyone feels good about paying a 4/10ths of a cent sales tax, which is a key element of the proposal. Commissioner Miller says that tax is an investment that will pay off.

"Some people say â€˜why don't we put that 4/10ths of a cent towards basic services?â€™ Well we could, but why would you when we can get four cents for the 4/10ths of a cent? And that goes straight in to the general fund for your basic services. You know, its ten fold," said Miller.

Tulsa county voters can cast their ballots for or against the river development plan on October 9th.

Watch the video: Chamber Getting Behind River Development

Related Stories:

2/9/2007 Record Donation Aids Expansion Of River Parks Trail

6/20/2007 River Development Plans

6/21/2007 New Plans For Arkansas River Development

7/17/2007 River Development Reaches Another Landmark

7/18/2007 River Developments Hinges On Vote Of The People

7/18/2007 Arkansas River Development Plan Announced

7/19/2007 Campaign Planned To Push River Development

7/20/2007 River Development Plan Similar To One Already Passed

7/26/2007 City Councilor Has A New Plan To Pay For River Development

7/29/2007 Explaining Development Along The Arkansas River

7/30/2007 River Tax Debate Continues

7/31/2007 River Plan Not Popular With Tulsa County Residents

7/31/2007 River Plan Reactions

8/9/2007 River Development Plans Move Ahead