Claremore Voters To Decide On Penny Sales Tax Increase For Public Safety

Claremore voters will soon decide whether to approve a one-penny sales tax increase.

City leaders say the money would be used only for the police and fire departments.

“We haven’t had an increase of any kind like this in 30 years,” said John Feary, Claremore City Manager. “Our costs have gone up exponentially.”

Feary says the proposed penny tax could fund different areas of the police and fire departments, including facilities, training, salaries, and staffing. He says the city is growing, and so is the need for first responders.

Feary says the city will soon need a fourth fire station.

“That’s three shifts of firefighters,” said Feary. “That’s a minimum of 14 or 15 additional firefighters and those are forever expenses.”

If passed, leaders say money from the general fund that currently pays for public safety could be reallocated to other areas like infrastructure. The proposal will be on the April 4th ballot, along with a mayoral and city council race.

The City of Claremore is hosting a series of public meetings for voters who have any questions or would like to know information about the potential tax. The first meeting happens Thursday at 6 p.m. inside the Will Rogers Memorial Museum.

More information can be found at Claremore.com/onepenny