Creek County Residents To Vote On Sales Tax To Fund Fire Departments

Residents in Creek County will vote on a sales tax increase Tuesday, that would fund fire departments.

The increase would be about one penny for every $6 spent and that penny would be split 15 different ways. Local firefighters in Creek County said that money could go a long way.

“One of our big priorities is replacing the insulation in this original part of the building,” said Kellyville Fire Chief Matt Staiger. “We struggle to keep the trucks warm during the Winter.” 

Staiger said there’s a laundry list of things that need to be updated around the firehouse, starting with redoing the insulation in the nearly 50-year-old building. 

“Just about everything you’ll see out here is all provided through grants or state grants, very little of it could be afforded by the town,” said Staiger. 

On April 6, voters in Creek County are being asked to vote on a 1/6th of one percent sales tax to be dispersed among the 15 fire departments in the county. The 15 departments include Bristow, Depew, Drumright, Freedom Hill, Kiefer, Kellyville, Mannford, Milfay, Mounds, Oilton, Olive, Sapulpa, Shamrock, Silver City, and Slick.

This money will be used to update outdated uniforms, replace aging equipment, and keep training for all firefighters across the county up to date. The money can’t be used on payroll or personnel expenses. 

“They’re going to be able to get PPE that’s not 20 years old or they didn’t go dumpster diving to get,” said Drumright Fire Chief Brett Lunsford. 

Lunsford said this money could also bring life back to some of the smaller departments that operate on less than $5,000 a year. He also said this could help lower homeowners insurance rates for people living in more rural areas around the county. 

“There’s a lot of people in our county that can’t even purchase insurance because the department that they live in their district, they don’t have the equipment to be recognized as a fire department,” said Lunsford. 

They said even a penny split 15 ways could help save a life. 

“You’re not really going to see a big change until you hit six dollars, it’s going to cost you a penny and that penny is going to hit 15 ways, but that 15 ways could hit that department that you’re driving through to go to an OSU football game that doesn’t have the equipment needed to cut you out of a car,” said Lunsford. “What we are trying to do is better the fire service in Creek County as a whole and this is the best way we’ve figured we could do it.” 

This proposition will be on the ballot for all Creek County voters next Tuesday. 

If it passes, it will go into effect on July 1st.