Voters in Oklahoma decide local sales taxes

The Associated Press No street improvements in Enid, but improved schools in Oilton and better bridges in Washington County. Those were just some of the results of local

Wednesday, November 8th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Associated Press

No street improvements in Enid, but improved schools in Oilton and better bridges in Washington County.

Those were just some of the results of local sales tax issues across Oklahoma on Tuesday.

In Washington County, a half-penny sales tax to fix bridges on school bus routes and county roads was approved, with 54 percent voting yes and 46 percent voting no in unofficial returns.

Voters in Oilton approved a penny city sales tax to help schools overcome a budget crunch. The vote was 191-131, or 59 percent to 41 percent.

In Garfield County, Enid voters supported by a 53-percent-to-47 percent margin a quarter-penny sales tax for street improvements.

But they rejected a one-12th-cent tax for the jail, with 49 percent voting for it and 51 percent voting against.

In Osage County, voters overwhelmingly approved funding for a countywide 911 emergency phone system. The final vote was 67 percent to 33 percent. The money for the service comes from a 5 percent increase in residents' monthly telephone bills, which wouldn't show up until two years from now.

Tulsa County voters passed a four-question proposition that approved a countywide sales tax to raise $50 million for road improvements, flood mitigation, county parks and fairgrounds improvements.

Tulsa city voters rejected a half-cent sales tax over 7 1/2 years that would have raised $263 million to renovate and expand the city's aging convention center and add other amenities around it.