Bristow council adopts 10% lodging tax ordinance, sets April special election

The Bristow City Council adopted an ordinance on Jan. 21, 2025, raising the city lodging tax to 10 percent and voted to place the question before voters in a special election on April 1, 2025. The ordinance, recorded as #199-012125, was approved in a roll-call vote (Church, No; Green, Aye; Johns, Aye; Peters, Aye; Roberts, Aye; Witty, Aye).

Mayor Kris Wyatt framed the change as consistent with neighboring cities’ rates, saying she did not believe small differences in tax rates would cause visitors to choose other hotels: "I don’t feel people look at the tax rate…that would determine their decision with the hotel either." Councilmember Judd Johns opposed the increase, stating he feared a rise from 8% to 10% "will hurt us in the long run." Councilmember Joe Church said he would personally drive to Tulsa rather than pay more, signaling concern among some members.

City Attorney Beth Anne Childs explained a key operational detail: the ordinance imposes the lodging tax on stays of up to 30 days and "after the 30 days, you will no longer be charged a lodging tax from the 31st day and forward if the stay is not interrupted." The ordinance also includes definitions (hotel/operator/rent), operator registration and reporting duties, exemptions, penalties for delinquency, an operator’s discount, and an appeals process. The Council also adopted Resolution #R1417-012125 to have the Creek County Election Board conduct the April 1 question to voters.

If voters approve the ballot measure on April 1, the ordinance states the tax would take effect on Aug. 1, 2025. Mayor Wyatt later asked the city attorney to research whether the city could collect the tax by other means should voters reject the proposal; Attorney Childs said she would look into the legal options.