And the increase in value of the team since the purchase has increased from its purchase price in 2006 of $350 million to something like $1.5 billion today (429% return in 13 years). Everyone needs to get up off their knees and stop acting like the financial benefit goes one way (from benevolent oligarchs who own the team to the people of OKC). How about the people of OKC get an equity position in the team ala the Green Bay Packers.

Ed, I support you when someone tries to paint you as against the underprivileged when its your beef is with logrolling.

However, I feel Peake and Thunder have been the best investment of all Maps to date. Yes, their valuation has increased but so too has OKC as whole. How many other businesses are viable because of Thunder? Its impossible to put a number on it, what they have done to make OKC a city that garnered so much growth. Without Thunder I don’t think we’d have prospered as much. So both sides have received benefits from them. Also not to be discounted is the community outreach they perform. Whats the value of all the Russells Reading Rooms? If just one kid turns his life around that kid could be Mayor of OKC one day.

So I’m ok with spending on them its a great entertainment value for the city (and state) and has returned value 10 fold.

I am against the logrolling though

Ed, I support you when someone tries to paint you as against the underprivileged when its your beef is with logrolling.

However, I feel Peake and Thunder have been the best investment of all Maps to date. Yes, their valuation has increased but so too has OKC as whole. How many other businesses are viable because of Thunder? Its impossible to put a number on it, what they have done to make OKC a city that garnered so much growth. Without Thunder I don’t think we’d have prospered as much. So both sides have received benefits from them. Also not to be discounted is the community outreach they perform. Whats the value of all the Russells Reading Rooms? If just one kid turns his life around that kid could be Mayor of OKC one day.

So I’m ok with spending on them its a great entertainment value for the city (and state) and has returned value 10 fold.

I am against the logrolling though

We are on the same page; no question the relationship has been mutually beneficial. Just pointing out that it is bidirectional.

Let the people vote on the "Chesapeake Energy Arena and Related Facilities" separately or at least grouped with other sports facilities/arenas. If it passes a vote of the people in that manner that is a very different endorsement than the logrolling currently being placed in front of the voter.

And remember also that we, as taxpayers, refund all the players' state income tax back to the Thunder owners etc.. I still believe that when taxpayers "invest" hundreds of millions of dollars into an enterprise such as the Thunder that they can be given some, at least token, ownership stake to also benefit from the 429% return/13 years.

We are on the same page; no question the relationship has been mutually beneficial. Just pointing out that it is bidirectional.

Let the people vote on the "Chesapeake Energy Arena and Related Facilities" separately or at least grouped with other sports facilities/arenas. If it passes a vote of the people in that manner that is a very different endorsement than the logrolling currently being placed in front of the voter.

And remember also that we, as taxpayers, refund all the players' state income tax back to the Thunder owners etc.. I still believe that when taxpayers "invest" hundreds of millions of dollars into an enterprise such as the Thunder that they can be given some, at least token, ownership stake to also benefit from the 429% return/13 years.

It just doesn’t work that way though. We won’t get any stake in OMNI either and thats fine. It will elevate our image.

I do think items need to be either alone or on groups that clearly define the group (like sports or social or transportation or parks and so on). Then these would be listed that way on ballot too.

I have so much against MAPS 4 and for the first time I am voting no. Too vague, not transformative and way too much added future underfunded operating costs. Some propose to create new jobs but nothing about how they will be administered nor what they will even pay. So whoever is picked by ?, could pay way over market value for positions and who controls that? Likely the same people picking the leader.

One of my adult kids is a no vote too so thats 2 no’s (other lives in Dallas). One good thing I did raising them is I always brought them with me when I voted. I thought it was very important and did this til they were 18. So amazed I rarely ever saw other parents bring kids in. I always explained to the worker volunteers I wanted them to be with me even at the booth to fully make them understand they have a choice and its their choice.

This MAPS is a mess and I fear will be end of MAPS. Its being rushed. Never had any concensus on projects. Very late to get word out. Too many projects with too little information. And at 8-9 years its too long. We need to change how we approach MAPS. This one just bankrupts us down the road with unfunded future costs.

^3 yes votes in my family so we are one vote ahead:)

We are on the same page; no question the relationship has been mutually beneficial. Just pointing out that it is bidirectional.

Let the people vote on the "Chesapeake Energy Arena and Related Facilities" separately or at least grouped with other sports facilities/arenas. If it passes a vote of the people in that manner that is a very different endorsement than the logrolling currently being placed in front of the voter.

And remember also that we, as taxpayers, refund all the players' state income tax back to the Thunder owners etc.. I still believe that when taxpayers "invest" hundreds of millions of dollars into an enterprise such as the Thunder that they can be given some, at least token, ownership stake to also benefit from the 429% return/13 years.
Ed,

Do you realize that all 460 players in the league, plus all ownership groups, pay the state of Oklahoma income tax for each game played in the state ?

That's a huge sum that is collected on the state's behalf. It's okay for the state to repay a small percentage of the Thunders employees income tax due to the QJA. But they spend a lot of taxed money in the community that is not refunded.

The general population will most likely see all these things listed (minus the stadium and fairgrounds arena) and think they're positive things. Bet this passes.

.

I have so much against MAPS 4 and for the first time I am voting no. Too vague, not transformative and way too much added future underfunded operating costs. Some propose to create new jobs but nothing about how they will be administered nor what they will even pay. So whoever is picked by ?, could pay way over market value for positions and who controls that? Likely the same people picking the leader.

. not transformative is what I am struggling with personally. that was the original MAPS vision and it is a bit muddy this go around.

Ed,

Do you realize that all 460 players in the league, plus all ownership groups, pay the state of Oklahoma income tax for each game played in the state ?

That's a huge sum that is collected on the state's behalf. It's okay for the state to repay a small percentage of the Thunders employees income tax due to the QJA. But they spend a lot of taxed money in the community that is not refunded.

No, I didn't know that and we are getting off topic (my almost sole focus is the logrolling aspect) and far outside any area of expertise on my part but I am intrigued. How is it that players on teams outside of OK pay income tax to the State of OK? Lebron James pays income tax to OK for each game played in OKC??? They pay a different amount to each state based on each state's tax rate???

No, I didn't know that and we are getting off topic (my almost sole focus is the logrolling aspect) and far outside any area of expertise on my part but I am intrigued. How is it that players on teams outside of OK pay income tax to the State of OK? Lebron James pays income tax to OK for each game played in OKC??? They pay a different amount to each state based on each state's tax rate???

in the NBA, players are paid game checks based upon the location of the game. so yes, on the game that lebron james plays in OKC, his game check for that game is subject to Oklahoma income tax. not all sports are done this way, but the NBA is.

That's how I've had to do it as a consultant/contractor. I routinely have had to file non resident tax returns for other states that I've worked in while a resident of Oklahoma.

in the NBA, players are paid game checks based upon the location of the game. so yes, on the game that lebron james plays in OKC, his game check for that game is subject to Oklahoma income tax. not all sports are done this way, but the NBA is.

Interesting. Thank you. NBA Players must enjoy playing games in Texas just a little more lol.

^ California (4 teams: LA Lakers, LA Clippers, GS Warriors, Sac Kings).

Ed, I don't believe Texas (3 teams: Dallas Mavs, Houston Rockets, SA Spurs). has income tax. ..

Weird that its this way when the players are employees of the team/city they represent; you'd think they'd just pay tax in that state (if any) and a "use" tax when playing in away games. Weird on the NBA.

Must be a nightmare nonetheless having to file so many state returns. One of the reason's players hawk about "Seattle" as an NBA destination is that like TX we also have no income tax. Oregon (Portland Trailblazers) has no sales tax.

Quick dive into taxes athletes pay this is from 2017 article but shows how complicated it is. You need a great tax man to decipher and file lol.

Income Taxes For Pro Athletes Are Reminder Of How Complicated U.S. Tax Code Is

Kurt Badenhausen9:20 am
By K. Sean Packard

LeBron James was the highest-paid athlete in the U.S. last year with more than $80 million from salary and endorsements. King James will pay his fair share of taxes, but the level of complication for James and his financial team when they are filing is off the charts since he earned money in at least the 21 states where NBA teams are located.

Athletes file taxes not only in their home state but also in every state—and some cities—in which they play. Not every state uses the same calculation to determine what portion of an athlete’s income to tax, and some use different calculations based on the sport. For example, Pennsylvania taxes baseball, basketball and hockey players on the ratio games in the state over total games played, including pre- and postseason, but they tax football players based on days worked in the state over total days worked. Michigan uses the same method but excludes the preseason. Most other states use the days worked method. Arizona uses that method but excludes days worked in the pre-season (otherwise MLB would be shopping for a new spring training home).

Read the rest here:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2017/04/18/income-taxes-for-pro-athletes-are-reminder-of-how-complicated-u-s-tax-code/#5fe8e40c411e

But you don’t get double taxed so if OKC player pays Cali taxes for days played in Cali (worked) those days are deducted here. Its complicated.

And that's why people like me exist. :)

That is totally off-topic, and really damn fascinating.

God, the accounting that must be required to keep up with it...

And the increase in value of the team since the purchase has increased from its purchase price in 2006 of $350 million to something like $1.5 billion today (429% return in 13 years). Everyone needs to get up off their knees and stop acting like the financial benefit goes one way (from benevolent oligarchs who own the team to the people of OKC). How about the people of OKC get an equity position in the team ala the Green Bay Packers.

Forgive me since the topic has shifted into the tax angle...

Ed you have our support, continue with being the watchdog for our city as it relates to programs & facilities.

True, the NBA franchise is valued at $1.5 billion; that figure only becomes liquid when they sell the franchise. There are groups who would love to own an NBA franchise; Seattle, Vancouver, Virginia Beach-Norfolk & Louisville are all in line waiting for an expansion or relocation franchise.

Keep in mind that The Peake is used for a number of events throughout the year. Thunder as an anchor tenant (first rights on dates) pays $1.6 million annually, an average of $40,000 per event to rent/lease the city's main arena.

Smart cities keep their arenas up-to-date to keep competitive with communities who aspire to covet what we already possess--that's how we obtained the Thunder.

That is totally off-topic, and really damn fascinating.

God, the accounting that must be required to keep up with it...

Imagine tracking royalties for music and movies...

I helped implement IT and financial systems for that purpose at Paramount and at DMX (forerunner to XM). You can't imagine all the different things that have to be tracked and the various parties that are owed.

Unless there are reciprocal agreements between two states, you almost always have to pay income tax (and employers must withhold this if you're a W2 employee) to the state in which you're working (unless that state doesn't have income tax). There are some state combinations where you are at the very least subject to double withholding (though you would likely get a credit from the tax you paid to the non-resident state toward your resident state's tax liability)

If you're interested in how non-residents have to pay, here is the OK 2018 non-resident instructions: https://www.ok.gov/tax/documents/511NRPkt-18.pdf

No, I didn't know that and we are getting off topic (my almost sole focus is the logrolling aspect) and far outside any area of expertise on my part but I am intrigued. How is it that players on teams outside of OK pay income tax to the State of OK? Lebron James pays income tax to OK for each game played in OKC??? They pay a different amount to each state based on each state's tax rate???

Yes, all players and team owners pay the Oklahoma income tax rate charged for each game in Oklahoma. Where Texas does not have a state income tax, then they would not pay.

The Thunder are making the state and city a lot of money in the long run.

That is totally off-topic, and really damn fascinating.

God, the accounting that must be required to keep up with it...

All income taxes for all 30 teams are handled by a firm out of Washington DC.

If you own property in Texas as my family does, those property taxes more than make up for the income taxes Oklahomans pay.

Especially, since you can't file for homestead exemption. You pay property taxes for the County (Milam County) & the School District (Cameron Independent School District) on property in Texas. So don't think because Texas doesn't have income taxes that's some kind of gift.

No, I didn't know that and we are getting off topic (my almost sole focus is the logrolling aspect) and far outside any area of expertise on my part but I am intrigued. How is it that players on teams outside of OK pay income tax to the State of OK? Lebron James pays income tax to OK for each game played in OKC??? They pay a different amount to each state based on each state's tax rate???

yes and this started with the city of cinncinnait that started imposing thier city income tax (2.1%) on visiting baseball players ...

everywhere in this country you owe income tax based on where you perform the work .. (in most cases states don't know or care) but in the case of athletes this "jock tax" is easy to track and understand ..

All income taxes for all 30 teams are handled by a firm out of Washington DC.

a bunch of the nba teams use PWC

No, I didn't know that and we are getting off topic (my almost sole focus is the logrolling aspect)

the problem is what we are voting on is absolutly not log rolling .. (the council can do what they wnat with the money as you well know )

the problem is what we are voting on is absolutly not log rolling .. (the council can do what they wnat with the money as you well know )

We just had some very fine logs to roll with in prior MAPS initiatives—top shelf firewood if you will.

But most of the logs in this round are filled with knots, still damp from the spring rains, and have potential to cause untold damage to our collective fireplace. It only makes sense that the Voters be given the option to pick and choose which logs shall burn.

Pete, is it possible to overlay the projects on a map of OKC? I realize we can’t map sidewalks plus some spend does not have a location picked out yet. Just curious if thats feasible. Some use existing buildings as well. Kind of like you do for other projects. If its too difficult don’t worry either.

mymaps.google.com is pretty easy to use

Interesting. Thank you. NBA Players must enjoy playing games in Texas just a little more lol.

as i've dug into it. the sports that seem to do this are the ones that have teams in both the US and Canada... i'm curious if how they have to deal with that is what makes it decided to be done this way.

Maybe that explains why the Packers and Raiders sent skeleton crews to the exhibition game in Manitoba.

mymaps.google.com is pretty easy to use

Thanks but I use DuckDuckGo

Yes, all players and team owners pay the Oklahoma income tax rate charged for each game in Oklahoma. Where Texas does not have a state income tax, then they would not pay.

The Thunder are making the state and city a lot of money in the long run.

How much money is the state contributing to improve the arena and practice facility?

Proud of Oklahoma City, on infrastructure, you have a long-term investment in local roads thru success of the 2017 bond issue passage.

If you own property in Texas as my family does, those property taxes more than make up for the income taxes Oklahomans pay.

Especially, since you can't file for homestead exemption. You pay property taxes for the County (Milam County) & the School District (Cameron Independent School District) on property in Texas. So don't think because Texas doesn't have income taxes that's some kind of gift.

It may not be a gift for Texans or landowners in TX but it IS a gift for NBA players to play there, which is the point of this diversion discussion. lol.

It may not be a gift for Texans or landowners in TX but it IS a gift for NBA players to play there, which is the point of this diversion discussion. lol.

My friend, your point is well taken into content, it is a gift to Texans.

You can only file homestead exemption in your resident state, if you own property in Texas (not a resident of Texas) you pay 3x what Texans pay. You receive no benefits from county or the school district on the higher taxes you pay. They don't miss sending you a bill that continues to annually escalate; then when you attempt to sell your property--it's like you don't own it. They ask for a litany of information they already possess. A technique designed to delay the sale, while they continue to collect taxes. Meanwhile, I've had to hire a lawyer, pay him up front, also give earnest money to the realtor while he (lawyer) takes his sweet time with excuse after excuse why he hasn't gotten to attend to your case. Hope you understand my position as well. Take care Hot Rod, will forever remember you guys.

My aunt who lived in Omaha owned 10 acres next to my property, never got to see a penny of 60 years of paying taxes on her property. She lost her deed in a house fire, they played the delay game until she died; then after 3 years of no one paying her property taxes the vultures moved in paid off what she owed and claimed title to her property.

When her relatives attempted to gain interest in her property; it was too late. Notices had been placed in the paper--that was the end of it.

Forgive me, I know we've gotten off topic. Back to MAP 4 projects.

Pete, is it possible to overlay the projects on a map of OKC? I realize we can’t map sidewalks plus some spend does not have a location picked out yet. Just curious if thats feasible. Some use existing buildings as well. Kind of like you do for other projects. If its too difficult don’t worry either.

I am not sure if this is what you are asking for but yesterday I placed some of the MAPS projects on the development page: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1iIzpOj8dBfTcpeuL_3so1z7mJyc&ll=35.44727406365997%2C-97.79169915937496&z=8

So in the past Ed Shadid made it very clear that MAPS is not log-rolling

During his previous campaigns and stints on the city council he made it clear that we must stick to promises made on what MAPS money would be spend on, and that we have to be vigilant because MAPS is “just a sales tax” and nothing more and the votes didn’t actually allocate any money to any specific projects which means that the city council can decide to change any of the projects. In the past he ran pretty heavily on that fact when he pushed against delays in the streetcar, to hold the council accountable to the promise they made when they campaigned in favor of the tax.

Then Dr. Shadid again reinforced the fact that MAPS is just a single tax vote by gathering signatures to change the proposed spending on the convention center project. Again it was made very clear that MAPS is just a tax and nothing else, and that the city council can change what they want to spend the money on. He attempted to force a public vote to push for such a change.

That’s just two high profile cases where Dr. Shadid made it clear that MAPS is not log-rolling, that it’s just a time-limited tax, and that the city-council is within their rights to pick and choose what they want to spend the money on because making a budget is a core function of the city council and that none of the proposed projects are actually up for a vote and the only thing the public decides on is a tax.


I supported Dr. Shadid during his time on the council, but I question his dishonesty here.
15559

If Holt can do a in theory complete 180 away from his gruesome political past, others should be allowed to possibly change up on a few things.



So in the past Ed Shadid made it very clear that MAPS is not log-rolling

During his previous campaigns and stints on the city council he made it clear that we must stick to promises made on what MAPS money would be spend on, and that we have to be vigilant because MAPS is “just a sales tax” and nothing more and the votes didn’t actually allocate any money to any specific projects which means that the city council can decide to change any of the projects. In the past he ran pretty heavily on that fact when he pushed against delays in the streetcar, to hold the council accountable to the promise they made when they campaigned in favor of the tax.

Then Dr. Shadid again reinforced the fact that MAPS is just a single tax vote by gathering signatures to change the proposed spending on the convention center project. Again it was made very clear that MAPS is just a tax and nothing else, and that the city council can change what they want to spend the money on. He attempted to force a public vote to push for such a change.

That’s just two high profile cases where Dr. Shadid made it clear that MAPS is not log-rolling, that it’s just a time-limited tax, and that the city-council is within their rights to pick and choose what they want to spend the money on because making a budget is a core function of the city council and that none of the proposed projects are actually up for a vote and the only thing the public decides on is a tax.


I supported Dr. Shadid during his time on the council, but I question his dishonesty here.
15559

Simple question then:

Does the city council have the legal power to change how they want to spend any of the previous or future MAPS moneys?

Does a YES vote on MAPS 4 create any legal obligations as a result of that vote for spending that money in any specific way that cannot be changed without any additional votes?

Does electing a council member running on a promise “vote for me and I will raise taxes and spend them on X” constitute log rolling?

The city council and mayor will not undermine the votes of the citizens. As soon as they do, they will be voted out.

The city council and mayor will not undermine the votes of the citizens. As soon as they do, they will be voted out.

That’s not the answer to the question though.

I am not sure if this is what you are asking for but yesterday I placed some of the MAPS projects on the development page: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1iIzpOj8dBfTcpeuL_3so1z7mJyc&ll=35.44727406365997%2C-97.79169915937496&z=8

“Could not open map, try again”

Thanks for trying but not working.

The city council and mayor will not undermine the votes of the citizens. As soon as they do, they will be voted out.

I don’t have any reason at all to believe they will. This ballot is written incredibly vague however. What if we do enter a global recession in the next few years while this tax is active. What if the council is forced by a terrible economy to divert the 1 cent (that is already going only into the general fund) to fund the day to day business of the city?

Would a better way to handle this is to set up a separate fund, call it the City Improvement Fund, unicorn rainbow fund, or whatever you want to call it - as long as it is separate from the general fund. Change the ballot to indicate that the 1 cent tax being diverted into this fund is only to be used for capital infrastructure.

It would be a shame if a crap economy forced the council into voting against the voters strictly because the money is coming into the bank account when the account is almost on overdraft.

Thanks but I use DuckDuckGo

OKC Guy,
What does that have to do with anything? I use DuckDuckGo as well, but it's a search engine. Mymaps.google.com is not the google search engine.
C. T.

“Could not open map, try again”

Thanks for trying but not working.
It’s working for me?

I don’t have any reason at all to believe they will. This ballot is written incredibly vague however. What if we do enter a global recession in the next few years while this tax is active. What if the council is forced by a terrible economy to divert the 1 cent (that is already going only into the general fund) to fund the day to day business of the city?

Would a better way to handle this is to set up a separate fund, call it the City Improvement Fund, unicorn rainbow fund, or whatever you want to call it - as long as it is separate from the general fund. Change the ballot to indicate that the 1 cent tax being diverted into this fund is only to be used for capital infrastructure.

It would be a shame if a crap economy forced the council into voting against the voters strictly because the money is coming into the bank account when the account is almost on overdraft.

No. This ballot is no more vague than any other.

No. This ballot is no more vague than any other.

Not sure if vague is the right word, maybe it is along with others, but in any case the MAPS1 ballot, which started it all, had all 8 of it's projects listed on the ballot. That is very different than the MAPS4 ballot which simply says "one-cent excise tax for 8 years" with no projects listed. Of course, MAPS1 and MAPS4 are essentially identical in that there are very specific capital projects with some money dedicated to operations. And yet, the OKC municipal counselor, and so many others, strongly believe that the MAPS1 ballot would be determined to be unconstitutional today. The only difference is the ballot language. If one identifies the projects in which the tax is going to be spent on (say in a 10 page resolution complete with budgets etc..) then that would be a "limited use tax" which would be subject to the single subject rule according to the OK Constitution. If, on the other hand, a government was simply creating a tax for general operations of the government without projects listed then that would not be subject to the single subject rule. What the City of OKC is saying is that the people are getting ready to vote on a general operations tax for day to day operations rather than a limited use tax in which 16 projects have been determined. After 25+ hours of public meetings, it is so fundamentally dishonest it is farcical. Should be obvious, at a minimum, that the City of OKC is walking a very fine line and irresponsibly playing with fire despite David Holt repeatedly stating publicly that such ballot language is "legally unassailable". But there is no case law which is exactly on pointe. And that is why such case law is needed; it is much bigger(affects all levels of government throughout OK) than just MAPS4.

No. This ballot is no more vague than any other.

I guess. I have no dog in the fight as I can’t vote. I just think this MAPS could be refined a bit. Best of luck to all:

I don’t have any reason at all to believe they will. This ballot is written incredibly vague however. What if we do enter a global recession in the next few years while this tax is active. What if the council is forced by a terrible economy to divert the 1 cent (that is already going only into the general fund) to fund the day to day business of the city?

The City Council has an existing history of not diverting MAPS funds during recessions, so there's no reason related to the ballot language to believe another recession will change that behavior. As it is the only council members that I am aware of that have tried and failed to divert MAPS funds away from their promised purpose are no longer sitting on the horseshoe.

I guess. I have no dog in the fight as I can’t vote. I just think this MAPS could be refined a bit. Best of luck to all:

No Vote for me.

The City Council has an existing history of not diverting MAPS funds during recessions, so there's no reason related to the ballot language to believe another recession will change that behavior. As it is the only council members that I am aware of that have tried and failed to divert MAPS funds away from their promised purpose are no longer sitting on the horseshoe.

Read the MAPS 3 ballot and compare it to the MAPS 4 ballot. There was no legal way for them to divert money in MAPS3 as it goes into a city improvement fund. MAPS 4 ballot dumps the money straight into the general fund with no stipulation of what it is to be used for.

Read the MAPS 3 ballot and compare it to the MAPS 4 ballot. There was no legal way for them to divert money in MAPS3 as it goes into a city improvement fund. MAPS 4 ballot dumps the money straight into the general fund with no stipulation of what it is to be used for.

Exactly. Thank you catch22. That is a very significant difference.

So MAPS4 is not log rolling since general revenue and appropriation bills aren’t affected by single subject restrictions?

And MAPS 3 still could have been spend on other things as long as it was “city improvement”.

Dr. Shadid fought both for and against just such diversions of funds.

Read the MAPS 3 ballot and compare it to the MAPS 4 ballot. There was no legal way for them to divert money in MAPS3 as it goes into a city improvement fund. MAPS 4 ballot dumps the money straight into the general fund with no stipulation of what it is to be used for.

Which still has no bearing on the likelihood of the City Council redirecting MAPS funds due to a recession when we have a documented history of that not happening. If they had wanted to before, they could have found a way regardless of which city fund the money was initially put into. The big sticking point that if the City Council ever chooses to do this, it puts a stake in the MAPS brand which it would probably never recover from, and nobody running the city wants to turn off that money faucet.

Weird that one of the former council members who explicitly tried to redirect MAPS funds keeps harping on this. Feels like it should actually be less likely now that a known proponent of redirecting MAPS funds is no longer holding one of the deciding votes.

I've always been impressed with Dr. Ed Shadid. He has never been a 'yes' man when he was on the city council. Where he lost my vote was with MAPS--where his position has been more in opposition or doing away with MAPS entirely.

Sure we could make that penny sales tax a permanent part of the city's General Fund and lose our 'say' in where we direct $95 million in annual capital improvements.

The additional penny sales tax revenue gives us an opportunity to direct some funds toward our aging infrastructure that is in need of continuous renovation or replacement.

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” -ol saying...


Holt is a weak man and needs to consider what Ed is saying.

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” -ol saying...


Holt is a weak man and needs to consider what Ed is saying.

Playboy does have a fyre Instagram account, though. I’d imagine that has to count for something with the young influencers.

MAPS 4 temporary 1-cent sales tax would keep Oklahoma City’s sales tax rate unchanged. If approved, It would take effect April 1 when the Better Streets, Safer City temporary sales tax expires on March 31.

The collections of $978 million would take place over eight years (April 1, 2020, with the eight-year term expiring at 12:00 am on April 1, 2028).

The proposed MAPS 4 program includes 16 projects; voters will vote yes or no on a single capital investment program, which the Council will devote to the MAPS 4 package.

MAPS 4 temporary 1-cent sales tax would keep Oklahoma City’s sales tax rate unchanged.

Until the RTA tax comes up for a vote in a year or so, which will be a challenge I'm sure.

We're presented with a full list of 16 projects to go before the voters: many of the project in MAPS 4 are not your traditional capital improvement projects like seen in the original MAPS back in 1993.

These are projects that can & will transform our city.

If you have time, sign up for an assignment or committee, the future (MAPS 4) of Oklahoma City will be in the hands of involved citizens who can make a difference.