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Commissioner proposes permanent public‑safety sales tax to fund new jail; public commenters urge rejection
Summary
Commissioner Jason Lowe moved to present a 5/8‑cent permanent public‑safety sales tax to voters to fund a new county jail and behavioral health center; multiple public commenters opposed the tax, citing cost, racial disparities and alleged mismanagement; Lowe’s motion to place the measure on the April 7 ballot died for lack of a second.
Commissioner Jason Lowe moved to present a 5/8‑cent permanent public‑safety sales tax to Oklahoma County voters to finance a new county jail, a behavioral health center and related public‑safety investments, and framed the proposal as a way to let voters decide how to address a long‑running jail crisis.
The proposal drew sustained public criticism during the meeting’s public‑comment period. Sean Cummings told the board, “you wanna do a sales tax on the poorest of the poor of the county,” and argued the plan would disproportionately burden…
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