Wagoner County holds public forum on Feb. 11 sales-tax vote to fund $13.5 million jail settlement

Wagoner County commissioners held a public forum Feb. 4 to explain a Feb. 11 ballot question that would increase the county portion of the sales tax by one-quarter of one cent to create a sinking fund to pay a $13.5 million settlement in a 2021 death that occurred in the county jail.

The discussion matters because Oklahoma law requires public indebtedness created by a judgment to be repaid from a sinking fund; the county presented voters with two funding options — a temporary sales-tax increase that would begin collection in July and run up to 15 years or a special ad valorem (property) levy if the sales-tax question fails.

At the start of the forum, County staff member Lori said the county had settled rather than proceed to a jury trial after the family of Angela Wiggins sued the county over her 2021 death in the Wagoner County jail. Lori said the settlement totaled $13,500,000 “and plus attorney’s fees,” and that the county’s insurance pool covered roughly $400,000–$500,000, leaving the county’s remaining obligation at “about $13,016,000 and change.” She explained that, by statute and the state constitution, that kind of public indebtedness must be repaid through a sinking fund.

Lori said the ballot question would ask voters whether to increase the county sales tax by one-quarter of one cent; if…