Durant City Council in a special meeting last week voted to call for an election to extend the two quartercent sales taxes that expire next year for another 25 years.
The two taxes for Southeastern Oklahoma State University and the Durant Community Facilities Authority expire in 2024, and council members voted for an election, that if approved by voters, would extend them until 2049. The DCFA portion of the tax funded construction of the Durant Multi-Sports Complex.
Under the proposition, one-quarter cent would go toward roadway improvements and the other quarter cent for water and sewer improvements.
The council debated whether to have the election for a permanent tax, but ultimately settled on 25 years.
“I think anything we do with our citizens, any restraints you put on it makes them feel more comfortable and so we have to be mindful, how do we get this passed?” asked council member Lauran Fuller.
Vice Mayor Mike Simulescu expressed the came concern and said council members will need to educate the public to get it to pass.
Council member Danny Sherrer also had concerns about making the tax permanent.
“I personally feel it has a better chance if we put a sunset for 20 years or something like that,” Sherrer said.
City attorney Tom Marcum, who said he was playing “devil’s advocate,” said putting a sunset on the tax could cause problems because if there is a big project in the future, there might not be enough money to fund it without asking the citizens to vote again on the tax.
Interim City Manager Rick Rumsey noted the election to extend that tax won’t add anymore taxes to what citizens are already paying.
“It’s just redirecting it back to the city to make crucial infrastructure repairs that are much needed,” Rumsey said. “If the repairs are needed today, you’re still going to have stuff that needs to be repaired in 20-25 years.”
Mayor Martin Tucker said the need for the taxes right now is great.
“I don’t want to over emphasize the need right now, but it’s significant and as the city grows and I believe it will continue to grow, I hope it does,” Tucker said. “That need’s going to continue to grow along with it and so there will always be a need for the funding. So whether we put an expiration date on it or not is immaterial, it needs to get passed.
“An expiration date would just mean at some point in time, another city council will be sitting here having the same conversation at some point in the future because the need’s not ever going to go away.
“I’m in favor of it either way. It’s immaterial to me, I just know that we need to get it done.”
Ultimately, the council agreed for the tax to have a 25-year sunset. Currently, it is estimated to collect about $2.6 million per year.
“I think we all know it’s a huge need,” Fuller said. “We all want to do it now. Our issue is we’re going to have to campaign for this. We’re going to have to get the people to approve it.”
The tax proposition will be on the Feb. 13 ballot.