Citizens oversight advisory board backs sales tax for new jail; PBA informed of recommendation

The Citizens Oversight Advisory Board voted unanimously to support sending a sales tax proposal to the county commissioners to fund construction and operations of a new jail, the Oklahoma County PBA was told at its Jan. 24 meeting.

The PBA's presiding officer reported the advisory board had "passed a resolution in support of the sales tax going forward to support the construction and operations of a new jail," and added the recommendation will be presented to the county commissioners on Wednesday. When asked, the presiding officer confirmed the advisory board's vote was unanimous.

Why it matters: a citizens advisory board's recommendation to back a sales tax is a formal expression of public oversight support and will be considered by the Board of County Commissioners; the commissioners, not the advisory board or the PBA, make any decision to place a measure before voters or change county tax policy.

The PBA did not take a formal vote on the measure during the Jan. 24 meeting; the advisory board's resolution is a recommendation and will be transmitted to the county commissioners for their consideration. No fiscal details, tax rate, ballot language or schedule were given in the PBA meeting minutes; the presiding officer reported only that the advisory board's recommendation would be brought forward and that the vote on the resolution was unanimous.

Officials at the PBA meeting did not provide additional details on the oversight board's membership roll call or the exact text of the resolution. The PBA accepted the report about the advisory board by voice vote and then continued with routine business.