PAWHUSKA, Oklahoma – Local elections are coming up on August 27, and there will be a lot of voting to improve the situation in cities like Pawhuska.
The city proposes an extension of the current sales tax of 1%.
The tax is divided into different areas:
- Three quarters of the tax goes towards modernizing the city’s streets and buildings.
- The other quarter will benefit the economic development of the community.
Carol Jones, Pawhuska’s deputy city manager, told 2 News that based on last year’s data, the city could raise over $400,000 if the tax passes.
Jones said that while the amount they receive may sound high, it adds up quickly.
“When you start to think about all the things that it takes to fix the streets – and not just the streets, but to fix the curbs and sidewalks and the water and sewer lines under the streets – it really adds up,” Jones said.
In addition to modernizing the streets, the tax is also intended to help attract visitors to the city, for example to the popular Mercantile, the restaurant and shop owned by pioneer woman Ree Drummond.
The last time the City of Pawhuska voted on this matter was in 2021, when the 1-cent sales tax was approved to continue the current development term and support the city hospital.
The proposal envisages extending the current sales tax of 4 percent until 2029.
“This is nothing new, it’s a continuation. In order for us to continue to build out our infrastructure and make things better for us as citizens and our visitors, it’s just very important that everyone goes out and votes yes,” Jones said.
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