Midwest City council approves ordinance language to raise hotel-motel tax, schedules Nov. 18 special election

Midwest City — The Midwest City Council on Aug. 26 approved ordinance language to increase the city's hotel-motel tax from 5% to 9.25% and passed companion measures to place the question before voters in a special municipal election Nov. 18, 2025.

City staff told the council the current 5% levy produces about $670,000 annually and the proposed 9.25% rate is projected to raise roughly $1.2 million a year, an increase of about $530,000 if occupancy and other factors remain unchanged. Under the ordinance as drafted, 55% of the new tax revenue would be earmarked for parks and recreation (including projects identified in a forthcoming parks master plan) and 45% would go to economic development.

Why it matters: Council members debated timing and turnout for a special election, the cost of holding a standalone vote, and how quickly new revenue would begin flowing if…