Voters Approve Collinsville School Bond, Coweta Sales Tax Measure

Voters in two Green Country communities approved separate ballot measures in Tuesday’s election.

Residents in Collinsville voted on a $10.4 million school bond, while in Coweta, voters approved a sales tax increase.

Both the measures passed by wide margins Tuesday night.

In Collinsville, nearly 90 percent of voters approved a bond that will allow the district to build new classrooms.

It also means improvements for its athletic facilities with a new football locker room, weight room, and softball field improvements.

Superintendent Jeremy Hogan said they've run out of space at their schools, and class sizes are much larger than they want to be. With Collinsville adding 120 new students this year alone, Hogan said this will help long term.

"Granted, it was no projected tax increase, but still when you're asking your patrons to vote on any measure that impacts property taxes they're paying for, they have to believe in the school system," said Hogan.

Meanwhile in Coweta, voters approved a one-cent sales tax increase with 72 percent of the vote

Coweta City Manager Roger Kolman said this will allow the city to improve its public safety facility and build a new fire station. The city will also conduct a drainage study and add additional lanes and shoulders to roads throughout the town as it continues to grow.

Kolman said he's grateful voters saw the need.

"Oklahoma municipalities are limited to sales tax as their main source of revenue,” said Kolman. “When you run up against things like this where you need to be doing some very big projects, it's hard to raise those funds."

To see a full list of election results, click here.