Jan. 16—Support from Haskell, Fort Gibson, Warner and parts of Muskogee helped carry a proposition for a countywide sales tax, an Oklahoma State Election Board map indicates.
According to unofficial results from the Oklahoma Election board, the proposal carried with 3,171 votes (58.95%) in favor and 2,208 votes (41.05%) opposed.
A proposition to renew an OG&E utility franchise in Warner carried with 83 votes for and 17 votes against.
The county proposition calls for a temporary sales tax of 0.849% of one cent to fund an array of public safety facilities, projects and services. Services would include emergency ambulance runs at no cost to Muskogee County residents. After initial projects are funded, within seven to 10 years, the sales tax would drop to a half-cent to keep funding the no-cost ambulance service, building maintenance and ongoing departmental vehicle and equipment needs. It will be administered by a county trust.
“Every public safety agency in the county will be impacted by this,” said Laurel Havens, executive director of Muskogee County Emergency Medical Services. “Our responders will benefit from this.”
According to the Oklahoma Election Board, the proposition carried most precincts around Muskogee, but failed in four precincts in southwest Muskogee, east Muskogee and south of Muskogee. It tied in precinct 21 south of Okmulgee Avenue around 32nd Street.
The proposition carried in precincts representing Oktaha, Fort Gibson, Warner, Haskell, Braggs, Summit and Taft. It failed in precincts around Porum, Webbers Falls, Keefeton and Council Hill.
The tax and the no-cost ambulance service will take effect April 1, Havens said.
The sales tax will fund:
— A joint facility, likely on Columbus Avenue, to house Muskogee County EMS, Muskogee Police Department, Muskogee City and County Emergency Management, Muskogee County Call Center and part of Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office and Muskogee Fire Department.
— New Muskogee fire station on York Street, renovations to Muskogee fire stations on Peak and on 40th Street, plus five new fire trucks for Muskogee.
— New vehicles, radios and equipment for Muskogee Police, Muskogee Fire, Muskogee County Sheriff.
— Joint public safety facilities, new police and fire vehicles and equipment for Haskell, Fort Gibson and Warner, at a cost of $4 million for each community.
— Money for emergency ambulance runs not covered by insurance, for patients living within Muskogee County.
— New radios for volunteer fire departments within the county.
Havens said new professional radios for first responders are to be the first items purchased. He said they will be purchased as soon as funding is available.
The no-cost ambulance runs would include emergency runs to any hospital, including ones on Tulsa, Tahlequah or Wagoner, Havens said. They also could include medically necessary trips, such as dialysis for bedridden patients, he said.
Muskogee Fire Chief Jody Moore said the sales tax passage helps move the fire department in the right direction, “and give us the tools and equipment we need to do our jobs.”
Moore said the replacement for the York Street fire station “will be something we’ll be proud of in the future.”
Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee said called it a win for the city and county.
“The potential this has for putting us into the future is absolutely amazing,” Teehee said. “I don’t think people realize how big this really is.”
Fort Gibson Police Chief Rob Frazier said he’s excited and thankful about the proposal’s passage. He said the tax will help fund a new joint public safety facility on Willey Street between Poplar and U.S. 62, as well as 20 new radios.
Havens said a committee will start designing the main public safety building after the location is secured. He said it will take about a year of design work before construction begins.