River Plan Not Popular With Residents

Tulsa County Commissioners decide Thursday whether to put a sales tax increase for river development to a public vote in October. It's a 4/10ths of a percent sales tax that would collect $282 million over seven years. The News On 6 and the "Tulsa World" used the Oklahoma Poll to see if people are aware of the river plan, and if they support the tax.

In a poll of 500 registered Tulsa County voters 92% told us they are aware of the proposal, but 52% say if they voted today they would vote against the plan. Thirty-nine percent said they would vote for it, and 9% said they didn't know or refused to answer.

In the poll voters were also asked how often they use the facilities along the Arkansas River. Forty-six percent said they never use them, 36% say they use them to exercise or attend events along the river once or twice a year, 11% use facilities along the river at least once a month and 6% use them at least once a week.

Then we wanted to know if people would go to the river more often if it had more restaurants, clubs, shopping and other opportunities. Fifty percent said it would stay about the same, 41% said they would use it more often and only 5% said less often.

County Commissioner Fred Perry held another public meeting Tuesday night on the plan. Some people at the meetings have questioned whether the city should spend money on river development when the streets need so much work. Our poll shows that is a common concern.

Thirty-two percent of the people said roads are Tulsa's most pressing problem. Twenty-three percent said crime should be the priority, and immigration was most important for 9% of the people. River development was mentioned by only 2% of voters.