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Public Safety Funding Vote Likely After River, Economic Development Measures

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

Tulsa city councilors seem to be in agreement that river funding and economic development should go to voters this year, while a public safety tax should wait until next year.

Councilor David Patrick said they need to garner support for these proposals individually.

"I initially liked the idea of putting it all in one election, getting it over with and, you know, trying to pass the whole enchilada," Patrick said. "But, you know, that really is complicated, and so it probably makes sense to have two elections."

Councilor G.T. Bynum targeted November for ballot measures on the river and economic development.

"There isn't, I think, any competing election this November that would distract from public attention on that," Bynum said. "I feel confident that we will have a river proposal ready to go for a November ballot that we would share with other communities."

The current cost of a proposal to put low-water dams in the Arkansas River is $235 million. The river vote has to be coordinated with Sand Springs, Jenks and Bixby.

The Vision 2025 tax that expires next year could be renewed for economic development.

Councilor Karen Gilbert recently proposed a four-tenths of a cent public safety tax but said she'd like the extra time to discuss plans and needs with the police, fire and streets departments.

"So that when we put together a package, we put together the package that will fund public safety for generations to come, not just for a few years down the road," Gilbert said.

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.