It was encouraging to see voters throughout Lincoln County show up last week and approve two propositions.
Voters overwhelmingly gave a thumbs up to renewal of the one percent county sales tax for another five years with 78.78 percent in favor of the proposition. School patrons in the Chandler School District also voted decisively in approving a bond issue $3,880,000 that contained a slight property tax increase. It’s to be paid off in five years beginning after a current bond pays off on June 30 this year.
Figures show that the bond issue won with 80.25 percent approval.
Chandler School Supt. Scott Baade has explained the four projects the board members chose to submit in the proposal to the voters includes a Media Center/Library for East Side Elementary School; a track field house/public restrooms/concession stand; Classroom cameras with microphones; and an Ag truck.
The board voted to employ Stephen H. McDonald and Associates as financial consultants for the bond issue.
The financial consultant recommended the bond issue be five years rather than six as originally thought. That will save the district’s taxpayers $138,000 in interest, Baade said.
The renewing of the one percent sales tax is vital for county government. It will allow a steady stream of revenue to flow through county offers as it has the past five years.
According to figures provided by Lincoln County Treasurer Brenda Jackson, in the last five years the sales tax has brought in $13,052,111.
The one percent sales tax is allocated as follows: 60 percent for county road and bridge improvements.
13 percent goes to the Lincoln County Jail.
6 percent is for the Lincoln County Extension Center which is capped at $120,000.
Another 7 percent for the Senior Citizen Nutrition sites.
Fire Departments receive 8.5 percent of the tax.
The Lincoln County Free Fair receives 2 percent.As directed by the Fair Board, it’s for repairs, maintenance, improvements, and personnel with a minimum of $3,000 dedicated for fair premiums and awards each year.
Economic Development receives 2 percent.
And Emergency Management and the Lincoln County Safety Office receive 1.5 percent. Maximum allowance for Safety Officer is $5,000.
Money over capped amounts will go to Lincoln County Economic Development.
Paul Simpson, the Rural Fire Defense Coordinator for the Central Oklahoma Economic Development Office (COEDD), explained 17 different fire departments throughout Lincoln County share in the 8.5 percent they receive and then there is a joint account they all use to purchase items the majority of the fire departments need like radio repeaters or a large ticket item that they can borrow from and then pay back.
Typically, voter turnout for propositions and school contests is light and this was no exception. County Commission Chairman Lee Doolen mentioned that about eight percent of eligible voters showed up at the polls on the sales tax question.
The important issue is that the sales tax question and school bond passed, meaning voters like what they are seeing done with their tax money.
We hope that will be the case for the next five years as well.