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New City Task Force Starts Looking for Vision Renewal Projects

City Hall at One Technology Center in downtown Tulsa
KWGS News
City Hall at One Technology Center in downtown Tulsa

First the river, then public safety, now Vision funding — Tulsa city councilors begin a task force to bring an economic development proposal to voters.

The Vision and Economic Development Task Force met yesterday for the first time. The countywide Vision sales tax is set to expire at the end of next year, and renewals will be on a city-by-city basis for their own projects.

"So we've got some work to do inside the City of Tulsa determining what we would like to invest in for our future for the renewal of Vision 2025," said Councilor Blake Ewing, who is the task force chair.

Ewing's initial list of areas needing improvement is the city’s sales tax base, transit system, and health and wellness.

Councilor Anna America said the city needs a list of projects that gets outside downtown and benefits all citizens.

"Where they live, in their neighborhood, not just when they go visit a new attraction but in their day-to-day life, we're doing things that are enhancing and improving that across the city," America said.

Councilor Jack Henderson is wary after things were promised for north Tulsa in previous economic development packages.

"And they said it clearly, that's where economic development should happen, they should be next. It did not happen," Henderson said. "I just want to make sure it goes on record that we cannot afford to repeat what we did before and expect people to support something when it didn't go like it was supposed to."

Education, libraries and jobs were also mentioned as possible areas for Vision renewal funding. The task force is aiming for a November ballot proposal.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.