Election day across eastern Oklahoma

Tuesday, February 24th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

This is an election day across Oklahoma. Some voters will decide on county tax issues most will choose school board races. Union, Collinsville, Sapulpa and a few other school districts will also decide on bond issues.

Tahlequah residents will head to the polls over a proposal to raise the city's sales tax to benefit schools. The Tahlequah school district is in a tight spot. There's a lot of property in the district like Tribal and government land that's not on the tax roles.
A property tax here can only generate so much funding, less than half the state average. So school officials say an added sales tax is the answer. The proposition would add one-half of one percent to the current sales tax.

It would generate an estimated $4.5-million over the next 5 years. And that would mean new classrooms and a new multi-purpose field house. Parent Angela Jones: "Anyone who's been in the schools can tell there are things that are lacking and lots of improvements that need to be made."

The ballot specifies the money is only to be used on the educational facilities, for things like construction and school equipment. School officials hope to pass a bond in April that would provide the rest of the funding.