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Commission approves ordinance to ask voters to raise hotel‑occupancy tax to 12% and broaden uses; emergency approved for August special election
Summary
The commission approved an ordinance to increase the hotel-occupancy tax from 8% to 12%, to reallocate city/county shares (city 60% / county fairgrounds 40%) and to expand city uses for the revenue; the commission also approved the emergency clause so the question can appear on an Aug. 25, 2026 special-election ballot.
The Enid City Commission voted unanimously to place a municipal question on a special-election ballot asking voters to increase the city's hotel-occupancy tax from 8% to 12% and to change how proceeds are allocated and used.
Melissa, who reviewed the ordinance language for the commission, said the hotel tax was first adopted by voters in 1981 at 5% and later increased to 8% in 2002 with a portion of proceeds reserved for the Garfield County Fairgrounds Trust Authority. Under the proposed ordinance the city share would be set at 60% of proceeds (down slightly from the prior city allocation) and 40% would be allocated to the fairgrounds trust for operation and capital needs at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center. Melissa said the ordinance would broaden the city's allowable uses for its share to any project, item, cost or expense that "encourage[s], promote[s], and/or foster[s]" convention and tourism development, including operating or renovating the Stride Bank Center.
The ordinance includes a special-election proclamation and a request to the Garfield County Election Board to hold the election on Aug. 25, 2026. The commission first approved the ordinance and then approved a separate emergency motion so staff could meet the county filing deadline; both votes were 6–0. Melissa and staff emphasized the ordinance's effective date is contingent on voter approval.
No changes to the ballot language were made at the meeting; staff noted the filing deadline for the county election board required the emergency action.
