Tulsa Announces Compromise To Keep $40 Million Horse Show

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A major horse show expected to have a $40 million impact on the city's economy next year is back on track, weeks after its organizers questioned a decision to come here because

Wednesday, May 9th 2007, 3:17 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A major horse show expected to have a $40 million impact on the city's economy next year is back on track, weeks after its organizers questioned a decision to come here because of a controversial annexation plan.

City and county leaders on Wednesday announced a compromise that would delay annexing the Tulsa County fairgrounds until Jan. 1, 2009, exempting the Arabian Horse Association's shows from higher sales taxes there.

The proposal, which still must be approved by city and county officials, means the U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show, a 10-day event that could draw up to 100,000 people, will be safe in Tulsa through 2010, officials said.

Factor in hotels, supplies to build stables for 2,000 horses, gasoline, food and florists, the show is estimated to have a $40 million impact on the local economy, officials estimate.

"Annexation has served as a continuing source of division between city and county officials," Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor said in a statement. "Through continued open dialogue, we were able to reach a win-win solution for Tulsa taxpayers. This solution gives a significant lead and planning time to exhibitors."

Last month, the city council voted to annex the fairgrounds, saying collecting its 3 percent sales tax there would provide needed revenue, but opponents -- including all the county commissioners -- said it would deter business.

A few weeks after the vote, Lance Walters, chairman of the AHA's U.S. National Show Commission, said the proposed annexation was "of great concern as both a matter of trust and for its financial impact to our membership," and hinted the association had other options.

Susan Bavaria, director of communications for the Aurora, Colo.-based horse association, said Wednesday AHA officials had considered talking with other cities that sent proposals to host the show if the annexation went forward.

"It's all been resolved and we're very happy to be coming there," Bavaria said.

Tulsa County Commissioner Randi Miller, who helped broker the deal with Taylor, said "we knew from the start we would have problems with our exhibitors, especially the Arabian horse show," if annexation went forward.

Next year's show is scheduled for Oct. 16-25 at the fairgrounds.

Related Stories:

11/28/2006 Annexing The Tulsa County Fairgrounds?

2/9/2007 Future Of Tulsa's Expo Square Discussed

3/27/2007 Tulsa Residents Petitioning Against Fairground Annexation

3/29/2007 Tulsa County Fairgrounds' Future Plans

4/5/2007 Annexing Tulsa County Fairgrounds

5/9/2007 Annexation Of Tulsa County Fairgrounds To Be Delayed