Oklahoma municipalities mull tax increases, bond issues on Tuesday

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Cities, counties and school districts across the state will ask voters to approve tax measures in Tuesday's election. <br><br>Enid city and school administrators will ask residents

Sunday, February 9th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Cities, counties and school districts across the state will ask voters to approve tax measures in Tuesday's election.

Enid city and school administrators will ask residents to approve a partnership to raise more than $27 million to improve city schools and protect Vance Air Force Base.

Residents will vote on a combination school bond and sales tax to renovate schools, some of which were built in the 1920s.

The city sales tax ballot will ask voters for a 15-year, quarter-cent tax increase that will be divided between the city and schools for the first eight years, and for the remaining seven years' revenues would go to schools with Enid students enrolled.

City leaders, wanting to ensure the future of Vance, have pushed the school improvement program as they anticipate future base closure rounds. One of the criteria the Base Realignment and Closure Commission has used is the quality of educational facilities.

Five counties also will have elections Tuesday to establish or continue a countywide sales tax.

Le Flore County voters will decide whether to keep its county jail open despite a state order to close it for health and safety reasons.

Voters will be asked to approve a three-quarter-cent tax to build a $14.6 million, 150-bed jail that would also house courtrooms and offices.

In Rogers County, a 1 percent sales tax extension will be placed before residents. The tax would be in effect for five years, and would go strictly for the construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges.

Cherokee County taxpayers will decide whether to approve a 1-cent sales tax extension for five years. Fifty percent of the proceeds would go toward the construction and maintenance of county roads. The remainder would be divided between law enforcement and the general fund.

Cotton County voters are being asked to approve a 5-year-quarter-cent sales tax to fund the annual operation of the Cotton County Cooperative Extension Center, which houses a number of agricultural programs.

Wagoner County voters are being asked decide on a 1-cent sales tax extension. Eighty-percent would be earmarked for county road construction and maintenance, with 10 percent going to the sheriff's department and the final 10 percent into a general fund.

Several school districts are seeking passage of bond issues for projects ranging from construction of schools and gymnasiums and indoor football practice facilities to purchase of school buses.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for each of the following elections.