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City manager proposes 1-cent permanent sales tax to fund $108M in capital projects over 10 years
Summary
City Manager Brooks presented a proposal to place a 1-cent permanent sales tax on the ballot to fund capital projects and public-safety needs; staff estimated $12 million annual revenue and $108 million over ten years and suggested a 90/10 capital/public-safety split.
City Manager Brooks presented a capital-funding proposal to the Moore City Council on Oct. 6 that would place a permanent 1-cent sales tax before voters to fund future capital projects and public-safety equipment.
Brooks said the tax would generate approximately $12 million annually under present conditions and estimated $108 million over 10 years. He proposed allocating 90% of proceeds to capital projects (streets, drainage, public facilities) and 10% to public-safety operations and equipment. Brooks described the approach as an alternative to frequent general obligation (G.O.) bond packages ("geo bonds") and said it would provide flexibility to start projects sooner and build a cash reserve by, for example, using an interest-only borrowing strategy in the first year.
Brooks noted the city previously relied heavily on geo bonds and that voters had expressed fatigue with that approach. He suggested the sales tax revenue could be used to leverage other funding (for example ACOG grants) and proposed keeping current half-cent and quarter-cent allocations in place, potentially as permanent funding if the council chose to pursue that route.
Council members asked about safeguards to ensure the funds would be spent for capital projects and not used to substitute for other revenue, and whether future councils could change the process. Brooks said detailed parameters, borrowing limits and project priorities would be drafted if the council chose to place the measure on the ballot. Several council members asked for a study session and town-hall style briefings to explain the plan to voters; Brooks said he planned to return to council with more detail in December and recommended asking voters in February if the council wished to proceed.
No council vote was taken on Oct. 6; councilmembers generally supported further study and requested a public outreach plan and a study session before any ballot action.
