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View Poll Results: Shall Ordinance No. 23,520 Be Approved?

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  • Yes

    34 75.56%
  • No

    11 24.44%
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Thread: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

  1. Default The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Okc's website is working again and here are my OCR'ed versions of the Ordinance which was passed by the City Council & Signed by the Mayor on 1/2/2008 and the Ballot Form approved at the same time. I've not checked my OCR exactly but it looks correct at first and second look. The PDF files are among those at City of Oklahoma City's Meeting Management System

    Note, in the ordinance, that a simple majority is required for voter approval.


    The Ballot:


    BALLOT TITLE FOR ALTERNATIVE #2

    EXHIBIT A

    BALLOT TITLE FOR SPECIAL ELECTION

    SHALL ORDINANCE NO. 23,520 ("ORDINANCE") OF THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY ("CITY") BE APPROVED?

    The Ordinance levies a limited-term excise tax of 1% on the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales taxable under the sales tax laws of the State of Oklahoma. The Ordinance states that the tax may be expended only for providing or improving City sports facilities and lists certain sports-facility-related improvements, costs, items, articles, expenses, reimbursements, paybacks, and payments that may be funded. The Ordinance permits funding of a basketball training facility, but provides the training facility shall not be funded unless, prior to June 1, 2009, a National Basketball Association team has executed a lease or other contract to locate in or relocate to the City. The Ordinance states that expenditures may be commenced, continued, completed, or concluded, in whole or in part, as and in the order deemed appropriate by the City Council. The Ordinance creates the "Oklahoma City Sports Facilities Sales Tax Fund." The Ordinance sets forth the term for the tax, which is a period of 15 months or 12 months, commencing at 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2009, and ending either at 12:00 a.m. on April 1, 2010 (15 months) if the basketball training facility will be funded, or in the alternative, at 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2010 (12 months) if the basketball training facility will not be funded. The Ordinance requires that, by not later than June 1, 2009, the City Council shall declare whether or not the basketball training facility will be funded, with notice of the corresponding ending date for the tax to thereafter be given in writing to the Oklahoma Tax Commission by the City Clerk. The Ordinance provides for codification and an effective date for certain sections thereof if City voters approve the Ordinance prior to January 1, 2009. The Ordinance declares an emergency.

    FOR THE ORDINANCE—YES [ ]

    AGAINST THE ORDINANCE—NO [ ]

    --------------------


    The Ordinance:


    SPORTS FACILITIES SALES TAX ORDINANCE
    ALTERNATIVE #2


    (Published in The Journal Record January 3, 2008)

    ORDINANCE NO. 23,520

    AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OKLAHOMA CITY SALES TAX CODE, CODIFIED AS ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 52 OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY MUNICIPAL CODE, 2007; SETTING FORTH FINDINGS; ENACTING SECTION 52-23.3 OF ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 52, LEVYING AN ADDITIONAL EXCISE TAX OF ONE PERCENT (1%) ON THE GROSS PROCEEDS OR GROSS RECEIPTS DERIVED FROM ALL SALES TAXABLE UNDER THE SALES TAX LAWS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA; SPECIFYING THAT THE TAX MAY BE EXPENDED ONLY FOR THE LIMITED-PURPOSE OF PROVIDING OR IMPROVING CITY SPORTS FACILITIES, WHICH MAY INCLUDE WITHOUT LIMITATION THE FUNDING OF CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS, ITEM(S), ARTICLE(S), COST(S), EXPENSE(S), REIMBURSEMENTS, PAYBACKS, OR PAYMENTS, AS LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE; AUTHORIZING THE FUNDING OF A BASKETBALL TRAINING FACILITY, SUBJECT TO THE PROVISO THAT THE BASKETBALL TRAINING FACILITY SHALL NOT BE FUNDED WITH THIS EXCISE TAX UNLESS, PRIOR TO JUNE 1, 2009, A NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (NBA) TEAM HAS EXECUTED A LEASE OR OTHER CONTRACT TO LOCATE IN OR RELOCATE TO THE CITY; SPECIFYING THAT THE EXPENDITURES FOR PROVIDING OR IMPROVING CITY SPORTS FACILITIES MAY BE COMMENCED, CONTINUED, COMPLETED, OR CONCLUDED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AS AND IN THE ORDER DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE CITY COUNCIL; CREATING THE "OKLAHOMA CITY SPORTS FACILITIES SALES TAX FUND;" PROVIDING A LIMITED TERM FOR THE ADDITIONAL EXCISE TAX LEVIED BY SECTION 52-23.3, WITH THE LIMITED TERM COMMENCING AT 12:00 A.M. ON JANUARY 1, 2009, AND ENDING EITHER FIFTEEN (15) MONTHS OR TWELVE (12) MONTHS LATER, DEPENDING UPON WHETHER OR NOT THE BASKETBALL TRAINING FACILITY IS FUNDED; STATING SPECIFIC ENDING DATES FOR THE EXCISE TAX, DEPENDING UPON WHETHER IT IS A FIFTEEN (15) MONTHS OR TWELVE (12) MONTHS TAX; , STATING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MUST DECLARE BY RESOLUTION PASSED BY NOT LATER THAN JUNE 1, 2009, WHETHER OR NOT THE BASKETBALL TRAINING FACILITY WILL BE FUNDED WITH THIS EXCISE TAX, AND WITH THE CITY CLERK TO THEREAFTER NOTIFY THE OKLAHOMA TAX COMMISSION OF THE CORRESPONDING ENDING DATE FOR THE EXCISE TAX; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR SECTIONS 1 AND 2 OF THIS ORDINANCE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

    EMERGENCY ORDINANCE

    BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY:

    SECTION 1. That Article 11 of Chapter 52 of the Oklahoma City Municipal Code, 2007, is hereby amended by the enactment of a new Section 52-23.3 to read as follows:

    Chapter 52. TAXATION
    * * *
    ARTICLE II. SALES TAX CODE

    §52-23.3. Additional excise tax on gross receipts for funding City sports facilities.

    (a) In addition to and cumulative of the excise tax of two percent levied by Section 52-20 of this chapter upon the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales taxable under the sales tax laws of this state, the excise tax of three-fourths percent levied by Section 52-21 of this chapter upon the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales taxable under the sales tax laws of this state, and the excise tax of one-eighth percent levied by Section 52-22 of this chapter upon the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales taxable under the sales tax laws of this state, a limited-term excise tax in the additional amount of one percent (1%) is hereby levied upon the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales taxable under the sales tax laws of this state, including but not limited to the specific taxable sales and service transactions enumerated in Paragraphs (1) through (11), inclusive, of Subsection (a) of Section 52-20 of this chapter.

    (b) The additional limited-term excise tax levied pursuant to Subsection 52-23.3(a) above may be expended only for the limited purpose of providing or improving City sports facilities, which may include without limitation the funding of improvements to the Ford Center; the funding of a basketball training facility, provided, the basketball training facility shall not be funded with this excise tax unless, prior to June 1, 2009, a National Basketball Association (NBA) team has executed a lease or other contract to locate in or relocate to the City; the funding of incidental or related real or personal property acquisition costs, real property interest acquisition costs, administrative costs, architectural costs, engineering costs, consulting costs, demolition costs, and legal costs; the funding of any or all other item(s), article(s), cost(s) or expense(s) incidental or related in any way to providing or improving City sports facilities; the funding of reimbursements or paybacks for expenditures made by a public trust with the City as a beneficiary for the purpose of providing or improving City sports facilities; and if deemed necessary or appropriate by City Council for cash-flow purposes, the payment of principal and interest on and the costs of issuance of bonds, notes, lines-of-credit, or other evidences of indebtedness issued by a public trust with the City as its beneficiary for the purpose of providing or improving City sports facilities.

    (c) The expenditures for providing or improving City sports facilities authorized under Subsection (b) of this section may be commenced, continued, completed, or concluded, in whole or in part, as and in the order deemed appropriate by the City Council.

    (d) Pursuant to authority of 68 O.S. § 2701(B), there is hereby created a limited-purpose-fund to be known as the "Oklahoma City Sports Facilities Sales Tax Fund" (hereinafter the "Fund") into which all revenues collected pursuant to Subsection 52-23.3(a) above shall be deposited. Money in the Fund shall be accumulated from year-to-year. The Fund shall be placed in an insured interest-bearing account and the interest which accumulates on the Fund shall be retained in the Fund. The Fund shall be non-fiscal and shall not be considered in computing any levy when the City makes its estimate to the excise board for needed appropriations. Money in the Fund shall be expended only as accumulated and only for the limited-purpose specified in Subsection 52-23.3(b) above.

    (e) The additional excise tax levied pursuant to Subsection 52-23.3(a) above shall be for a limited term commencing at 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2009, and ending as follows:

    (1) If the basketball training facility referenced in Subsection 52-23.3 (b) of this section will be funded with this excise tax, then the excise tax shall end fifteen (15) months after commencement of the tax and, specifically, said tax shall end at 12:00 a.m. on April 1, 2010; or in the alternative,

    (2) If the basketball training facility referenced in Subsection 52-23.3 (b) of this section will not be funded with this excise tax, then the excise tax shall end twelve (12) months after commencement of the tax and, specifically, at 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2010.

    By not later than June 1, 2009, the City Council shall by Resolution expressly declare whether or not the basketball training facility referenced in Subsection 52-23.3(b) of this section will be funded with this excise tax, with notice of the corresponding ending date for this excise tax to thereafter be given in writing to the Oklahoma Tax Commission by the City Clerk.

    SECTION 2. CODIFICATION. The provisions of Section 1 of this Ordinance shall be codified as Sections 52-23.3 of Article II of Chapter 52 of the Oklahoma City Municipal Code, 2007.

    SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE OF SECTIONS 1 AND 2, APPROVAL BY CITY VOTERS REQUIRED. The provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this Ordinance shall become effective from and after 12:00 a.m. on 1st day of January, 2009, but only if this Ordinance is approved prior to said date by a majority vote of the qualified, registered voters of The City of Oklahoma City voting on such question at a special election to be called for that purpose by the City Council of the City and to be held within the City as provided by law; provided, if this Ordinance is not so approved by City voters prior to 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2009, then the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 hereof shall become null and void and of no force and effect whatever.

    SECTION 4. EMERGENCY. WHEREAS, it being immediately necessary for the preservation of the peace, health, safety and public good of The City of Oklahoma City and the inhabitants thereof that the provisions of this ordinance be put into full force and effect, an emergency is hereby declared to exist by reason whereof this ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from and after the date provided herein as provided by law.

    INTRODUCED and CONSIDERED in open meeting of the Council of the City of Oklahoma City this 2nd day of January, 2008.

    PASSED by the Council of The City of Oklahoma City on this 2nd day of January, 2008.

    SIGNED by the Mayor of The City of Oklahoma City on this 2nd day of January, 2008.

    /s/ Mick Cornett
    MAYOR
    ATTEST:
    /s/ Frances Kersey [Seal of the
    City Clerk City of Oklahoma City]

    REVIEWED for form and legality.

    /s/ Kenneth D. Jordan
    Municipal Counselor
    ---------------------


  2. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    yes yes yes

  3. #4

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Hell yes!!!!

  4. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Quote Originally Posted by dcsooner View Post
    Hell yes!!!!
    Sorry, DCS, you just mutilated your ballot! Ahw, shucks ... IT COUNTS ANYWAY! TWICE! And JBrown's vote counts 3x!

  5. #6

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    I cannot think of one reason not to vote yes. (Sorry about the double negative)

  6. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    It'll be approved via a grass roots effort. That means I'm voting yes and everyone that I know is gonna hear my case for why they should vote yes too. If we're passive about this election, we could be in for a rude surprise when the tally comes in. I love OKC and I'm trying hard not to move my wife and our soon to be bundle of joy to LA where I work, but if this fails I'll be VERY disappointed. That said, I don't think that it'll fail. I just think that a lot of us really understand just how important this is for our future and consequently, we're nervous. I get the feeling that if this fails, C2S and everything that we've been looking forward to will have taken a major blow. In other words....GET OUT AND VOTE YES.

  7. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Quote Originally Posted by Decious View Post
    It'll be approved via a grass roots effort. That means I'm voting yes and everyone that I know is gonna hear my case for why they should vote yes too. If we're passive about this election, we could be in for a rude surprise when the tally comes in. I love OKC and I'm trying hard not to move my wife and our soon to be bundle of joy to LA where I work, but if this fails I'll be VERY disappointed. That said, I don't think that it'll fail. I just think that a lot of us really understand just how important this is for our future and consequently, we're nervous. I get the feeling that if this fails, C2S and everything that we've been looking forward to will have taken a major blow. In other words....GET OUT AND VOTE YES.
    Totally agree ... an affirmative vote should NOT be taken for granted. I'm gonna make me a big yard sign very shortly! Maybe with a graphic of the "new" arena!

  8. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    I just wish Ray Allen hadn't been traded. Vote YES!

  9. #10

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    YES YES YES. PLEASE let me stop being a casual, somewhat but not quite, mavs fan!

  10. #11

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Although I do not currently live in Oklahoma, this vote is momumental to me. I want to move back home in a couple years to a progressive forward thinking city. Those of you in Oklahoma City do not take this vote for granted, get people who want growth and progress to the polls on voting day, it would be a travesty to let this moment in the Cities progress fail. The owners spent $350M for an opportunity to bring improved recognition and quality of life to OKC, please don't let 1 cent on a dollar for 15 months kill all the momemtum of the past 10 years

  11. #12

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Quote Originally Posted by Nixon7 View Post
    YES YES YES. PLEASE let me stop being a casual, somewhat but not quite, mavs fan!
    I am not a "casual" Mavs fan. I'm downright crazy fanatical about Dirk and my boys but I vote yes and goodbye mavs (at least when they play the OKC Sonics)

  12. #13

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Yes for arena improvements ONLY!!!

    An emphatic NO on paying for the millionaire players and billionaire owners to have a practice facility. They should pay for that. These so-called "conservatives" like Clay Bennett who run to the government for handouts while screaming "liberal giveaway programs" when it's about health, education, etc. is hypocrisy of the first order. Corporate welfare is what the giveaway to Bennett & Company would be. You can either vote against it on principle - or vote for it because you want an NBA basketball team so bad that you're willing to allow the hypocrite to blackmail you for your tax dollars. I stand with the people of Seattle - who voted on principle - and vote NO against corporate welfare - whenever, however and wherever it exists. I won't be held hostage and blackmailed for a basketball team. I know, I know, "Look what good it will do for the city!" That's the point, when they know you want something so badly, that's what makes it blackmail. It has to stop. We can be part of the problem or part of those saying no to billionaire owners who steal from the wallets of the working people of the city. No tax increase? Yes it is. When a tax is scheduled to expire - and does not - it is taking away the tax decrease promised you.

    Doesn't principle mean anything anymore?

  13. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Quote Originally Posted by CCOKC View Post
    I am not a "casual" Mavs fan. I'm downright crazy fanatical about Dirk and my boys but I vote yes and goodbye mavs (at least when they play the OKC Sonics)
    After a little bit of serious meditation, all I can say is, "Welcome, Sonics Fan," and Dunk the Dirk! I think I'm having too much fun with this!

  14. #15

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    I just edited the above a lot. Sorry, I meant to "preview."

  15. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Quote Originally Posted by solitude View Post
    Yes for arena improvements ONLY!!!

    An emphatic NO on paying for the millionaire players and billionaire owners to have a practice facility. They should pay for that. These so-called "conservatives" like Clay Bennett who run to the government for handouts while screaming "liberal giveaway programs" when it's about health, education, etc. is hypocrisy of the first order. Corporate welfare is what the giveaway to Bennett & Company would be. You can either vote against it on principle - or vote for it because you want an NBA basketball team so bad that you're willing to allow the hypocrite to blackmail you for your tax dollars.
    Solitude, the exact same point was made by one of the councilmen during the city council discussion (I listened to the whole 2-3 hour marathon), even if the councilman did not put the matter as bluntly as you did.

    But, apparently, the practice facility "requirement" is not "Bennett" driven but is "NBA" driven. Whether Bennett's group may want to temper his parent organization's position when negotiating a lease or actually constructing the practice facility in whole or in part is a different matter. If it was presented accurately, the NBA currently holds that a host city must be willing to provide the practice facility as one of the perks of inducement (such as the Nola Practice Facility that has yet to come to pass in New Orleans). Maybe that ain't pretty, but there it is, just the same.

    We don't hold the cards, the NBA does, and, if we want an NBA team, their cards are apparently on the table. We don't have to play. I understand that this isn't likely a satisfying answer, but, the point is, we may not have the ability to set the rules of engagement, even though Bennett et al are citizens here.

  16. #17

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Loudenback View Post
    Solitude, the exact same point was made by one of the councilmen during the city council discussion (I listened to the whole 2-3 hour marathon), even if the councilman did not put the matter as bluntly as you did.

    But, apparently, the practice facility "requirement" is not "Bennett" driven but is "NBA" driven. Whether Bennett's group may want to temper his parent organization's position when negotiating a lease or actually constructing the practice facility in whole or in part is a different matter. If it was presented accurately, the NBA currently holds that a host city must be willing to provide the practice facility as one of the perks of inducement (such as the Nola Practice Facility that has yet to come to pass in New Orleans). Maybe that ain't pretty, but there it is, just the same.

    We don't hold the cards, the NBA does, and, if we want an NBA team, their cards are apparently on the table. We don't have to play. I understand that this isn't likely a satisfying answer, but, the point is, we may not have the ability to set the rules of engagement, even though Bennett et al are citizens here.
    I hear 'ya Doug. I understand the way the game is played. It will pass at any rate. But, I will still vote on principle about taxpayers funding anything that is for the sole, exclusive use of the basketball team. If the league requires this - maybe the league should consider paying for these things. Which, by the way, they would have to if the people in all the NBA cities said "enough." As long as they can get away with the blackmail and holding teams hostage for public funding of their private enterprise --- it will continue. The galling thing is we're talking millionaire players and millionaire (billionaire in some cases) owners who can pony up for things that are for their exclusive use.

    You are right, we can't make the rules of engagement - we're just expected to pay for the rule book.

  17. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    I sort of agree with you Solitude. I cringe at the thought of some of the outrageous salaries of sports professionals, actors, celebrities etc.

    But, the way I look at a practice facility is somewhat similar to a 'school' ... the team practices.. the team gets better and improves.. the team excels and wins, we all win.

    The intangible benefits of a pro sports team to a city are immeasurable. I'm more than willing to pony up the tax if it brings them here and gives them a place to practice.

    Simple, I know.
    " You've Been Thunder Struck ! "

  18. #19

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Telling my mom and anyone else I know that lives in OKC to get out and vote yes

    Way excited this great college sports area may finally get a piece of the pros

  19. #20

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Sorry, but I see so many intangible benefits to having a team here, that I don't see a principle we're failing to uphold. When a team owner has already put up $400 million of their own money to bring a team to a city without a guarantee of making a penny, and the possibility of losing millions, I don't think asking for a practice facility is asking for much. When the owners have to pay $30 million to relocate the Sonics, then I don't think giving them $20 million back for a practice facility is too much. Since $400 million is an almost unimaginable sum for most of us, let's drop it to $40,000. Let's say you have a business in another city for which you've paid $40,000. You'd like your home city to have the benefit of this business....perhaps it's a really nice restaurant that you think your city would enjoy having. But, when you do the market research, it's not very likely that your business will make any or much money if you relocate it to your hometown. Would you do it if you would make $1,000.00 profit a year, just so your city could enjoy that restaurant? Would any businessman? The average NBA team makes $10 million dollars a year, and many make less. Some don't break even. That's the equivalent of making $1,000 on a $40,000 investment, or 2.5%. You can do better putting your money in a savings account, as could the Sonics' owners. Therefore, bringing a team to OKC is an altruistic action. We cannot respond with a $20 million dollar practice facility that will cost each of us a penny sales tax? The smart thing for the Sonics' owners to do would be to negotiate a better contract and keep the team in Seattle, where they would actually have a far better chance of making money. They are doing this for the city, not themselves. If they were doing it for themselves, they would NEVER move the team to a market this size with a substantial chance of making marginal money. So, can we not be generous and give back? That's my take, solitude.

  20. #21

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Quote Originally Posted by betts View Post
    Sorry, but I see so many intangible benefits to having a team here, that I don't see a principle we're failing to uphold. When a team owner has already put up $400 million of their own money to bring a team to a city without a guarantee of making a penny, and the possibility of losing millions, I don't think asking for a practice facility is asking for much. When the owners have to pay $30 million to relocate the Sonics, then I don't think giving them $20 million back for a practice facility is too much. Since $400 million is an almost unimaginable sum for most of us, let's drop it to $40,000. Let's say you have a business in another city for which you've paid $40,000. You'd like your home city to have the benefit of this business....perhaps it's a really nice restaurant that you think your city would enjoy having. But, when you do the market research, it's not very likely that your business will make any or much money if you relocate it to your hometown. Would you do it if you would make $1,000.00 profit a year, just so your city could enjoy that restaurant? Would any businessman? The average NBA team makes $10 million dollars a year, and many make less. Some don't break even. That's the equivalent of making $1,000 on a $40,000 investment, or 2.5%. You can do better putting your money in a savings account, as could the Sonics' owners. Therefore, bringing a team to OKC is an altruistic action. We cannot respond with a $20 million dollar practice facility that will cost each of us a penny sales tax? The smart thing for the Sonics' owners to do would be to negotiate a better contract and keep the team in Seattle, where they would actually have a far better chance of making money. They are doing this for the city, not themselves. If they were doing it for themselves, they would NEVER move the team to a market this size with a substantial chance of making marginal money. So, can we not be generous and give back? That's my take, solitude.
    I understand that point of view. I just don't buy it.

    Be generous and give back? Why should my 98 year old grandmother have to pay for a practice facility for a privately-owned professional basketball team?

    Altruistic? They will make money - and they know it. They will profit from this team in due time, maybe right away. Many businesses operate at a loss for several years before becoming profitable. That's business. The savings account analogy doesn't work for several reasons, but one big reason is the fact that the owners of the team reap huge tax advantages for any "losses."

    As far as wanting to "give back" --- you could have every opportunity. It's called buying tickets. And if the basketball fans really want to "give back" why not a dollar or two surcharge on each ticket to pay for the practice facility and whatever else? Seriously. The owners say that's not acceptable. They can't put a dollar on a ticket of someone who is going to the games, but they can ask the public-at-large (including my grandmother) to pony up? That's the principle. It's corporate welfare or it's not. It's a self-sustaining private business or it's not. On principle, I can't support government handouts to millionaire/billionaire owners of a privately owned anything. And that includes a basketball league that pays their players figures that should make this entire conversation moot. On what planet do you ask the public to finance a practice facility so millionaires can go practice in it?!?! The city is being asked to pay out millions for a league that pays players like Kevin Garnett $24,000,000.00 PER YEAR! (And yes, no typo, that's 24 million dollars a year.) The Sonics have an annual payroll of over $63,000,000.00 - for a basketball team! It's out of control. For me, handing public money to these people is a travesty.

    I can appreciate the other viewpoint. I just think a lot of people around this country have been played like tools for professional sports franchises that use cities and people as hostages for the purpose of making rich players and owners even richer. If anybody else should be asked to pay - it should be the people who go to the games. A buck or two a ticket and my grandmother doesn't have to bail out a bunch of overly-paid basketball players and the owners who pay them. Simple and fair if anybody feels the need to "give back." But as I said, it's going to pass and I accept it. In my opinion, it's just wrong.

  21. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    But its no different from the sales tax now... your grandmother will be paying what she has been paying for over ten years! Its not going up! Its staying the same...

    BUT.... I DO understand what ur saying and I completely agree with you... we should not have to pay for a practice facility so millionaires who are much more than capable of just reaching in their own pockets and paying for it.

    The Ford Center improvements should definitely be a yes, but maybe the practice facility should be built by other means??? The Ford Center itself will benifit from these upgrades not only from NBA but with more events going to it... the purpose of this tax is to make the Ford Center an even better, more attractive venue for concerts and such, But it is also to lure an NBA Team. I'm kinda torn on whether the practice facility should be a part of the tax or if it should be paid by other means... But either way, we need a practice facility.

  22. #23

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Actually, solitude, there is no guarantee that the team will ever make money. The $10 million I quoted was the average. The Grizzlies have never made money. Many of the small markets never make a significant amount of money. Why should the Sonics owners give us a bigger gift than $400 million? Isn't that a big enough donation to this community? Especially considering the community will reap the benefits of having a team, not just those who go to the games?

    I have no problem with a seat tax. But at a dollar a head, it's going to take 10,000 events to pay for a practice facility.

    A practice facility is the price of doing business with the NBA, regardless of what you believe about who should pay for it. You can vote no in protest, but if you've got enough people doing the same, we will not get an NBA team. There's no guarantee this measure will pass, as there are a lot of people opposed to taxes for anything. I sincerely believe that if we do not get an NBA team, it will seriously decrease the forward momentum in this city. We need things happening downtown to make it attractive for people to go there. When the Hornets were here, downtown and Bricktown were buzzing. It was fun to be there. I think we need things like that to encourage people to live downtown, and I think a lot of the downtown housing construction was helped by having a professional team here. Again, without one, it says we're content being a midwestern third tier city with Triple A baseball and a hockey team contesting with the Shreveport Mudbugs and the Laredo Bucks. Personally, I'll pay a lot to have a chance for Oklahoma City to host playoffs or the NBA finals with international coverage instead, for a chance to see the Boston Celtics, the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers six nights a year instead. And although I no longer have a grandmother, my mother sees the benefit too. She's one of the biggest proponents of progress and moving forward around, even though she doesn't particularly like basketball.

  23. Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Other polls are going on ... here's what I've found so far:

    Journal Record (despite the opinion piece): The Journal Record - Poll
    (if that link does not show the poll results, then start here ... The Journal Record - Home ... and then scroll to page bottom and click "View Poll Results" ... and vote if you've not done so, if you wish)

    AboutOkc.com: Oklahoma City Poll Results

    OkcBusiness.com: OKCBusiness - Oklahoma City Business News

    OU Espn Insider: Will you vote yes on the Ford Center upgrade? - OU Insider Forums

    Hornets/Sonics Central
    : http://www.hornetscentral.com/forum/...pic.php?t=6390

    Doubtless there are others.

  24. #25

    Default Re: The Ballot, Ordinance, & Your Vote

    Why should I pay for taxes for a school if I do not have any kids or plan to have kids?

    Why should I pay taxes for road repair in southern OKC if I never go past reno?

    Because it makes the community better.

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