MAPS 4 Plan? Shadid proposes shift in focus to fund city services.

[shawnw]

Except the mayor agrees with him now (regarding using part of MAPS tax for non-capital projects), which shocked and disappointed me.

http://newsok.com/article/5545846/

[benjico]

Our streets are in terrible shape and are not accommodating to pedestrians, cyclists and public transportation. It's not a sexy proposal, but it is a step to help those seeking a healthy lifestyle or those in poor financial situations limiting their automobile use. I also think quality of life improvements such as the stadium could have a great impact on our city. My mind isn't made up on where I stand on MAPS 4, but welcome the debate and discussions that will occur this summer in preparation for the vote.

[shawnw]

But a bond issue larger than any MAPS proposal ever made is about to get voted on.... and it's supposed to deal significantly with streets....

[Laramie]

The city needs to address the decaying streets & infrastructure. If we want to make our city an attractive place--that's a good place to start.

Oklahoma City will be a different place come 2020.

[shawnw]

I agree but GOOOOOOO bondsssssssss

NOT MAPS, IMO

[Plutonic Panda]

Yes, they need to pass the GoBonds and then worry about MAPS in 2018 and then maybe a sales tax increase in 2019. A new sales tax will also be needed for the RTA. Plus the state needs to jack up the fuel tax considerably. A lot of new taxes are going to proposed. It isn't a good idea to shove them all together.

[DoctorTaco]

There is recent movement from the State Legislature to allow cities to use property tax for operational expenses related to public safety. This is a change because (at least to my understanding) cities in Oklahoma can only use property tax $$ for capital projects not for operations. http://www.kjrh.com/news/state/new-p...ty-in-oklahoma

The pressure behind this seems to be coming from Tulsa. I am wondering why OKC isn't on this bandwagon as well? I've heard Cornett talk about how hard it is in Oklahoma where cities can't get at property taxes for operations.

This new bill could alleviate the need for that 0.25% sales tax allocation, no? And doing so would preserve MAPS as, well, MAPS.

[Pete]

Press release from the city:



05/30/2017

Sales tax, bond proposals would invest $1.1B in Oklahoma City; Proposed vote is Sept. 12

More than $1.1 billion in funding for streets, police, firefighters and other basic needs and an annual injection of $26 million for day-to-day operations are included in sales tax and bond proposals under consideration by the Oklahoma City Council.

The proposals, which are subject to voter approval, represent an opportunity for Oklahoma City residents to build a safer and better community through critical investments in their future without raising sales tax and property tax rates.

“These are targeted investments in the infrastructure and services our residents depend on, and it's in a package that doesn't raise taxes from the same level they've been for decades,” said Mayor Mick Cornett.

There are three basic components: a permanent ¼ cent sales tax and temporary ¾ cent sales tax to replace the expiring MAPS 3 sales tax, and a general obligation bond package to succeed the almost-complete 2007 bond program.

The Council set a public hearing on the proposals for June 13, with a Council vote June 20.

Pending approval by the Council, a vote for all Oklahoma City voters would follow on Sept. 12.

General obligation bond package
The largest component is a $967 million general obligation bond package, which uses property tax revenue to fund basic infrastructure needs. The package would succeed the $835.5 million package approved in 2007, which is almost complete.

More than half the funds – about $491 million – are dedicated to building and rebuilding streets across Oklahoma City, including sidewalk and bike lane projects.

Streets are perennially a top concern among Oklahoma City residents, which is reflected in the size of the investment included in the bond package. An additional $28 million for traffic control and $27 million for bridges is also included.

A proposed investment of about $138 million for parks and recreation facilities includes new parks and improvements to regional and neighborhood parks across the City.

Also proposed is $62 million for drainage control, $60 million in economic and community development funding, $45 million for firefighting facilities and $31 million for police facilities.

Rounding out the proposed bond package is $24 million for libraries, $20 million for transit, $20 million for the Civic Center complex, $13 million for City maintenance facilities and $9 million for the downtown arena.

Under the proposal, the City millage rate for property taxes would remain the same as it has since the 1980s.

Click here to see the full project list.

Permanent ¼ cent sales tax
The MAPS 3 penny sales tax expires at the end of the year. Under this proposal, as of Jan. 1, ¼ of the expiring penny would be permanently reinvested in the City’s General Fund. About two thirds of the General Fund goes to public safety services, with the rest paying for other basic services like animal control, parks and transit.

Included in the proposal is a statement of intent from the Council to use the funds to pay for hiring additional police officers, staffing two additional fire stations and bringing an idled fire engine back into service. The funds would also allow the Council to reverse the cutbacks to other critical services included in recent budgets.

The permanent ¼ cent sales tax would add an estimated $26 million per year to the General Fund.

Because it would replace part of an expiring tax, the City’s sales tax rate wouldn’t go up from the rate it has been since the early 1990s.

Temporary ¾ cent sales tax
The final component would replace the rest of the expiring MAPS 3 sales tax with a temporary ¾ cent sales tax to help continue catching up on a complete and safe street network for all Oklahoma City residents.

Over 27 months, the temporary sales tax is projected to generate $180 million in revenue for better and safer streets, sidewalks and trails for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

The proposal calls for $126 million for street resurfacing, plus $18 million for streetscapes, $9 million for trails, $9 million for bicycle infrastructure and $18 million for sidewalks.

The debt-free projects will create smooth and safe streets for drivers, on-street amenities for recreational and commuting cyclists, and streetscapes that protect pedestrians and enhance opportunities for economic development.

Like the proposed permanent ¼ cent sales tax, the ¾ cent temporary sales tax would replace part of an expiring tax. Oklahoma City’s sales tax rate wouldn’t go up from where it has been since the early 1990s.

Sept. 12 vote proposed
The Council is scheduled to vote on the proposals June 20, including to set a proposed election date of Sept. 12.

All Oklahoma City voters would be eligible to participate in the election.

The proposals will be presented on the ballot separately: One item for the ¼ cent permanent sales tax, one item for the ¾ cent temporary sales tax, and one item for each of the bond projects.

[Plutonic Panda]

Is this for MAPS 4 or GoBond? I didn't quite see a figure in the amount of money generated by MAPS 4 or if it was only a temporary extension of MAPS 3. I thought MAPS 4 was going to be for roads also and voted on later this year.

[Pete]

Is this for MAPS 4 or GoBond? I didn't quite see a figure in the amount of money generated by MAPS 4 or if it was only a temporary extension of MAPS 3. I thought MAPS 4 was going to be for roads also and voted on later this year.

For both.

That press release has all the info you seek.

[Plutonic Panda]

Yes I went back and reread it and it makes sense now. I would have thought MAPS 4 would get more money than just $180 million though it now sounds to me like they're branding it as an extension of MAPS 3 which is smart.

I'm hoping they'll release a map of each individual street project and details of it. I'm also extremely interested in the sidewalks, trails, and parks.

[gopokes88]

It's basically a 1/4 cent tax raise and maps goes down to a 3/4 cent program. Smart way to raise taxes without the $ you are used to paying going up.

Getting amazon to start paying sales tax is huge. That's where a lot of future sales tax growth will be.

[progressiveboy]

Would like to see street infrastructure improve by using concrete to repave city streets. I am sure city officials will say the cost is to prohibitive? OKC should do things right the first time and that includes looking at the "long term" picture and not a quick fix. The residents of OKC deserve better!

[bradh]

The asphalt mafia would never allow that

[Plutonic Panda]

Would like to see street infrastructure improve by using concrete to repave city streets. I am sure city officials will say the cost is to prohibitive? OKC should do things right the first time and that includes looking at the "long term" picture and not a quick fix. The residents of OKC deserve better!

Yes I believe I pointed this out as well. Couldn't agree more.

In all honesty, I'm not that excited about this new bond issue. Only $20 million for transit which should be more like 50-70 million and not a lot of money for parks either. I would like to have seen more road widenings, transit improvements, and more park projects. It looks like they're just going to repave the roads in asphalt with no real traffic flow or aesthetic improvements.

[OkieDave]

Yes I believe I pointed this out as well. Couldn't agree more.

In all honesty, I'm not that excited about this new bond issue. Only $20 million for transit which should be more like 50-70 million and not a lot of money for parks either. I would like to have seen more road widenings, transit improvements, and more park projects. It looks like they're just going to repave the roads in asphalt with no real traffic flow or aesthetic improvements.

$20 million for transit. $28 million for 3 new golf clubhouses.

[Plutonic Panda]

$20 million for transit. $28 million for 3 new golf clubhouses.

yeah it's wack. I mean it does seem like the city is gearing up for a mass transit package soon for the RTA which ACOG has said they'll be a massive investment in the service reworking to tie in the streetcar once it opens and the new commuter rail. I'll believe that when I see it.

[bradh]

double post

[bradh]

to be fair, I don't think we are to a point yet with transit that stuff is ready to be built, so much is still just being discussed.

i'm all for the new clubhouse at Hefner though

[Pete]

By transit they mean bus stops and the like and those can be built any time.

The huge majority of the stops are just a sign in the ground or some sad bench with no protection from the elements.

And very few are handicap accessible.


I'll see if I can get some more detail about what that transit money would cover.

[shawnw]

When I talked to the Embark folks at the bond meetings, they were pushing for more buses (to improve headways) and more bikes for spokies. If they got their way (and I have no idea if they did), they were talking a couple dozen more kiosks.

[riflesforwatie]

And there are a number of stops that are just a sign or an unprotected bench not even connected to a sidewalk.

I like the idea of improving headways with more buses, but that's going to require more drivers, too. Can a non-capital cost like additional employees be covered from this sort of tax (or the GO Bond)?

[shawnw]

Believe me, the stop by my work that I use is one of those classic benches, perched unevenly on a semi-hill with no sidewalk and just feet (2-3) from 40MPH 4-lane traffic. I'd love to have a better stop there. But I get that it's a process and I'm okay with balancing service requirements and stop upgrades over time.

[Questor]

So what's the consensus... do folks think this sales tax proposal will be successful? I know it's anecdotal, but just talking to folks around town it seems like there's less support for this than a traditional MAPS proposal, but I don't know if that's reality or just my microcosm. Any word if there will be any significant ad campaigns to try and promote this?

[soonerguru]

So what's the consensus... do folks think this sales tax proposal will be successful? I know it's anecdotal, but just talking to folks around town it seems like there's less support for this than a traditional MAPS proposal, but I don't know if that's reality or just my microcosm. Any word if there will be any significant ad campaigns to try and promote this?

Unless there is a considerable investment in transit included, I will be voting against this measure. This effectively trashes the MAPS brand. I will vocally campaign against this.