By Bailey Dabney, Publisher
January 8, 2010 — We are one full week in to the New Year and 297 days until the next general election. There is a lot to consider between now and November.
There is another sales tax issue on the voting agenda. This one involves the city of Claremore’s portion of the sales tax. The city’s portion of the nine cents sales tax is three pennies. The allocations for these three pennies are very specific. One cent is dedicated to streets and drainage, one cent is dedicated to pay off the debt of the Expo and Recreation Centers and Wastewater treatment plant and the final cent is divided as follows: 20 percent Police, 20 percent Fire, 20 percent Parks and Recreation and 40 percent Capital Improvements. The “capital improvements” portion of that tax brings in approximately $1.2 million per year.
On February 9, the Claremore electorate will vote on expanding the usage of the dedicated street and drainage tax to include water, wastewater and electric services.
This issue is purely about fiscal responsibility. We have enough money to manage our streets and drainage - actually more than we have been using. However, we do not have monies available for some critical projects like replacing old clay sewer lines, replacing unsheathed buried electrical cables, water master plan projects, sewer and electrical projects. The estimated infrastructure needs facing the City of Claremore in the coming years total about $100 million.
In the business world, when you have unscheduled priority expenses, you tighten your belt in other areas to fund the crisis. The city does not have that option. They would have to raise our rates and fees to cover these costs if it were not for the option to tap into the money allocated for streets and drainage.
We elect a city council to make financial decisions. They hire a city manager to plan and execute strategies to fill the needs of the city. But unless we approve this change, they will either have to choose to neglect other infrastructures, or choose to charge us more for other city services.
Does this mean there will be potholes all over town? Not exactly. Most planned street projects should go on as scheduled. The vote will determine if city leadership will have the option to move some priorities ahead of others. It is more important than ever when tax revenues are lower than anticipated. Remember, this is not a new tax or an extension of an old tax. It may, in fact save us from needing a new tax.
On February 9, we have the opportunity to allow City Council and City Management the opportunity to make the best use of our money. Three pennies can go a long way if we let them.
• Bailey Dabney is publisher of the Claremore Daily Progress.
