Nov 4 tax propositions

[rxis]

"http://www.cityofmoore.com/two-propositions-be-decided-november-ballot"

"September 17, 2014 - Registered voters in Moore are being asked to decide two separate propositions on the November 4th ballot. The first proposition is for a $15 million general obligation bond for the construction of a four lane bridge on S. 34th Street over Interstate 35.

Property owners in Moore would see an increase in property taxes for this project. A property that is valued at $125,000 would see an increase of $68.44 in the first year then the amount would gradually decrease to $26.83 by year fifteen.

The bridge would provide an alternate route from each side of Moore between S. 19th St. and Indian Hills Road. City Manager Steve Eddy stated, “The City Council has been presented several traffic studies that suggest a bridge over I-35 on 34th St. would improve traffic flow in the area. The Mayor and Council unanimously decided that this project should be placed on the ballot for our citizens to decide.”

The second proposition is the renewal of a half cent sales tax that began on April 1, 2011. The proposition would keep the sales tax in place for an additional four years with 80% of the funds being designated for residential street improvements and 20% being used for public safety equipment for Moore Police, Fire, and Emergency Management departments.

Over the last four years this dedicated sales tax has generated over $13.1 million. This has allowed for $10.5 million worth of residential street improvements in neighborhoods across Moore and $2.6 million for public safety equipment.

“Properly equipping our public safety personnel is a priority for our city leaders and these funds help us meet the needs of our growing city. Also, we hope our citizens can see the benefits of having improved residential streets throughout Moore.” said Manager Steve Eddy.

For additional information about the propositions on the November 4th ballot contact Moore City Manager Steve Eddy at 405-793-5200."


I'm voting against the property tax increase and voting for the sales tax renewal. It seems like we are receiving the burden of additional property taxes every single year. I don't want the burden of another bridge when there is already a large bridge on the next road at Indian Hills Rd. I think most of the commuters on the bridge will be Norman and OKC residents.

[s00nr1]

Rxis I am right there with you and have voiced my concern over the 34th St overpass proposal on here before. The fact that so many OKC residents who live along 34th west of I35 will be using this while Moore homeowners have to fit the bill does not sit well with me.

[yunome12@yahoo.com]

I live on the West side of I-35 and agree. Homeowners should not have to foot the bill for the overpass. My property taxes are outrageous. I don't need them to go up to pay for an overpass that ODOT should be paying for. VOTE NO!

[bucfan1512]

The reason that ODOT is not helping with it is because it is not connected to the Highway. They can only be involved if the overpass would have access to I-35. That means that we are going to have to pay for an overpass and if we want it connected to the highway ODOT will gladly foot that bill which is much smaller. This whole situation is turning into a mess if you ask me.

[yunome12@yahoo.com]

Thank you for the info. With the East side of I-35 expected to grow in the near future, things will only get worse. Apartments currently going up and additional retail planned for that area.

[Plutonic Panda]

HA! Outrageous property taxes in Moore, that's a good one!!

[Plutonic Panda]

The reason that ODOT is not helping with it is because it is not connected to the Highway. They can only be involved if the overpass would have access to I-35. That means that we are going to have to pay for an overpass and if we want it connected to the highway ODOT will gladly foot that bill which is much smaller. This whole situation is turning into a mess if you ask me.

The only reason ODOT isn't involved is because they identified this particular area as rural and they won't build more than one bridge each mile in rural areas.

[Robert_M]

Just to throw my hat into here I live off 34th and I am a Moore resident. I would use the bridge myself at least once a day and sometimes twice depending on work not to count the times I would go shopping / dinning there on the East side of town. It is true that there is Talavera and a few of the other neighborhoods listed as Oklahoma City that would use the bridge however if traffic gets much worse without the bridge our property taxes might stay the same but Sales Tax may go down as those people decide to go to Norman instead of dealing with the traffic.

As for ODOT my interpretation of what Mr. Eddy has said the city is still trying to convince ODOT to add I-35 access but as PP said they have it listed with an outdated classification of rural they would have to stop dragging their feet and change it and as we know ODOT isn't known for speed.

[s00nr1]

The Rock Creek overpass in Norman should be the model -- no property tax increases to Norman citizens -- funded solely by the UNP TIF along with ODoT and ACOG dollars.

[Robert_M]

If I remember correctly at the time Moore and Norman both put in for the same ACOG dollars on their own bridge projects and that money was awarded to Norman which was only about $1M~.

I think ODOT fronted about $4M~ for the project and I am sure Moore approached ODOT for help as well and they probably said no.

As for the other almost $8M came from a special assessment district. I'm not a tax expert but from my understanding the land value was inflated to saw on about 350 acres or so there around Rock Creek in UNP which was undeveloped at the time to collect a higher property tax on that land to pay the difference. True the average Norman citizen didn't have their property tax go up but someone paid for it. I'm sure if this was an option for Moore they would have done the same thing

[Roger S]

I would probably support a temporary sales tax increase for the 34th Street bridge but I'm against a property tax hike for it and I feel strongly that the railroad underpass for 4th Street is a higher priority.

Was talking about it with some of my co-workers yesterday and when I said I was against it. One that lives in Norman said "I want that bridge to make it easier to get to Home Depot.". So I said "I'll vote yes if you want to reimburse me for the property tax increase."

[Robert_M]

This is why i think it will be toss up for the bridge to get approved. If I'm going east of the railroad tracks I will take 19th. If I'm coming from the city and going East I will take 27th or 12th so the underpass would not be a priority for me but I personally would still say yes because I know it effects others. If you don't drive 19th or don't drive 4th Street neither one would mean anything for you. And that is what the vote will come down to is if people feel the bridge will relieve the traffic they have to deal with on 19th or not.

In regard to the underpass I do feel that ODOT should be fitting the bill as it is a state highway. Don't know how feasible it is but I could also argue BNSF taking the two tracks down to 34th and then use the 2 miles between 4th and 34th to park a train but again BNSF would have to pay for that

[Roger S]

In regard to the underpass I do feel that ODOT should be fitting the bill as it is a state highway. Don't know how feasible it is but I could also argue BNSF taking the two tracks down to 34th and then use the 2 miles between 4th and 34th to park a train but again BNSF would have to pay for that

I forgot that 4th is also a State Highway.... Yes ODOT should be paying for at least part of an underpass there if it ever happens.

Well I'm with the OP on this vote.... No to property taxes and yes to extend the sales tax.

[s00nr1]

As president of our HOA, I will be asking homeowners to vote no on the 34th St proposition as well.

[bucfan1512]

I will be voting no on the property tax but yes on the extension of sales.

[Easy180]

Rxis I am right there with you and have voiced my concern over the 34th St overpass proposal on here before. The fact that so many OKC residents who live along 34th west of I35 will be using this while Moore homeowners have to fit the bill does not sit well with me.

Just described me lol. Will be payback for all the MAPS projects Moore folks get the benefit of ha ha

My guess is it will pass easily

[s00nr1]

Just described me lol. Will be payback for all the MAPS projects Moore folks get the benefit of ha ha

My guess is it will pass easily

That doesn't quite make sense considering MAPS was a sales tax increase and this is a property tax increase.

[Easy180]

That doesn't quite make sense considering MAPS was a sales tax increase and this is a property tax increase.

Best I could do on short notice.

[JesStang]

I think a bridge there would be fantastic but asking the citizens to pay for it is one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard.
I hope y'all vote no.

[Jersey Boss]

^ A perfect summation of the American voter.

[s00nr1]

There's a difference between "asking citizens to pay" which would be the case if ODoT funded the project, and asking *homeowners only* to pay for a project that will have no positive effect on 90% of home values in Moore. I have no problem with the former, only the latter in this case. This is opposed to my stance on the Moore Central Park proposition, which instituted a property tax increase that will benefit ALL Moore residents.

[Roger S]

There's a difference between "asking citizens to pay" which would be the case if ODoT funded the project, and asking *homeowners only* to pay for a project that will have no positive effect on 90% of home values in Moore. I have no problem with the former, only the latter in this case. This is opposed to my stance on the Moore Central Park proposition, which instituted a property tax increase that will benefit ALL Moore residents.

And this isn't even really asking the citizens to pay... It's asking those of us that own property in Moore to pay.

One of the arguments I heard from someone was that it would benefit the new apartment complex being built south of the Town Center..... So they get to benefit from a bridge they have no stake in? Not if my NO vote to raise property taxes carries any weight they don't.

[Plutonic Panda]

And this isn't even really asking the citizens to pay... It's asking those of us that own property in Moore to pay.

One of the arguments I heard from someone was that it would benefit the new apartment complex being built south of the Town Center..... So they get to benefit from a bridge they have no stake in? Not if my NO vote to raise property taxes carries any weight they don't.

Have you driven on EVERY single street in OKC or the suburb you reside in? I'm guessing no. Why did you help pay for that street? How about the other taxes you pay that go to the national government and help fund other road projects around the country that receive federal funding? Been on all those?

My point is, just because you won't ever use it doesn't mean you won't have to pay for it.

[Roger S]

Have you driven on EVERY single street in OKC or the suburb you reside in? I'm guessing no. Why did you help pay for that street? How about the other taxes you pay that go to the national government and help fund other road projects around the country that receive federal funding? Been on all those?

My point is, just because you won't ever use it doesn't mean you won't have to pay for it.

You totally missed the point.

[Plutonic Panda]

You totally missed the point.

Ok, I went back and reread it. I see what you're saying.