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Tahlequah holds first reading on 2025 street improvement sales tax extension; special-election timing questioned
Summary
Council held first reading of ordinance to extend a 0.5% street improvement sales tax through 2030 and discussed scheduling a May special election; staff said the measure is an extension, not a new tax, and estimated the tax generates about $2.1 million annually.
The Tahlequah City Council on Feb. 3 held a first reading of an ordinance to extend the city’s half‑cent street improvement sales tax through Dec. 31, 2030, and discussed scheduling a special election to submit the measure to voters.
City Administrator Taylor Tannehill told the council the proposal is an extension, not an additional tax, and that the city generates about $2.1 million annually on average from the half‑cent sales tax in recent years. She said the revenue — together with motor fuels and vehicle taxes budgeted to streets — funds capital projects such as College Water, Fox Street, Campbell Road and traffic‑signal upgrades, and that without the tax the city could expect only limited ability to build new streets rather than maintain existing ones.
Tannehill said staff removed language from the draft ordinance that previously permitted use of proceeds for operations; the revised ordinance is intended to restrict the funds to capital improvements only. Council members asked how project lists would change if the tax did not continue and whether certain purchases the state excludes from sales tax (for example, some food items) should be considered for exclusion locally. One speaker suggested the city consider state exclusions to limit added cost to residents during economic uncertainty.
Council also discussed a resolution to hold a special election; staff noted an error in the agenda’s date language and recommended confirming the correct election date for May 13, 2025, while also advising that statutory deadlines may require a special meeting to correct the agenda item if necessary. No final vote on the ordinance or a special‑election resolution occurred on Feb. 3; staff said deadlines for election filings mean the city must address the clerical error quickly if it proceeds to ballot.
Because this was a first reading and staff recommended resolving an agenda date inconsistency, the item will return for final action and any required procedural corrections before a ballot measure would be set.
