Some background information
The current countywide Vision 2025 sales tax is set to expire at the end of 2016. Several municipalities, including Tulsa, have decided to scrap Vision 2025’s countywide concept in favor of their own individual packages. That has resulted in a real challenge to Tulsa County’s efforts to find continued capital improvement revenue as the Vision 2025 partners go their separate ways.
Over the years, It’s been a long and winding road for Tulsa County Commissioners to identify funding sources to meet their capital needs. In 2001, voters approved the first “4 to Fix the County” proposal, by keeping in place a two-twelfths cent countywide sales tax that had been used for the operation of the Tulsa Jail. That tax expired on Sept. 30, 2001, leaving a permanent quarter-penny sales tax for jail operations.
The 0.167-cent 4 to Fix tax had been extended countywide twice since 2001, but the City of Tulsa’s 2008 Fix Our Streets program made a portion of it a city tax when it expired, souring relations between the city and county. In one extension, the county had used the tax to fund more than $142 million in capital improvements, including road repairs and improvements to Expo Square.
County squeezed out?
Because Improve Our Tulsa replaced the county’s Four to Fix tax for road repair, commissioners had claimed they would be forced to go after more of the Vision renewal, than the .05% left unclaimed by the city’s plan. Several pitches have been proposed by county officials over the last few years including one to recapture the full 0.167-cent former 4 to Fix tax, possibly as a part of the Vision 2025 extension, to finance among other things a juvenile justice center.
Most of the proposals have been shot down by City of Tulsa, and surrounding communities, as elected officials have shown a steadfast determination to capture all but .05%, or one twelfth of the expiring Vision 2025 sales tax. That would have funded less than half of the county’s identified $140 million in needs.
Maintaining they were being left with little choice, county officials were leaning towards asking voters to consider a full 0.1 percent sales tax in the Vision renewal. If approved with the city’s package it would have resulted in an increase of the overall sales tax rate in Tulsa by 0.05%, which most everyone agreed could threaten approval of the entire package.
There certainly is nothing unique about elected officials attempting to avoid the political impact of a new tax increase and that is ostensibly why the entire Vision renewal has become so complicated, by shifting well over 40 percent of the 0.6 percent “Vision” tax from a temporary capital improvements levy to a permanent transportation and public safety tax, to avoid a tax increase to fund core services.
City / County negotiate in the final hours
A resolution to the stand-off began to take shape in the very last few weeks of the city’s Vision renewal deliberations. If the county were to avoid the potential request for a tax increase, commissioners asked that the city of Tulsa include $65 million for work on roads, Expo Square and county parks, that primarily benefit the city, in the 15-year city Vision renewal. That would have included $35 million for Expo Square, about $12 million for LaFortune, Chandler and O’Brien parks, and $18 million for roads and bridges.
County officials, including Commissioner Ron Peters pointed out that the improvements to Expo Square are necessary to retain major attractions like the U.S. Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show with a $26 million annual economic impact in the city of Tulsa. Peters, and his fellow commissioners collaborating with G.T. Bynum and other councilors negotiated an agreement.
A plan is agreed upon
Unwilling to give up the entire $65 million, the mayor and city councilors began looking at conceding any money left after the .6 percent Vision 2025 levy expires in December and after $45.5 million is refunded to municipalities. The authority administering the Vision 2025 county sales tax took steps recently to make way for the county to capture those funds, which some have estimated as much as $15 million. The county will presumably use the money for roads, bridges and improvements to LaFortune, Chandler and O’Brien parks. That, combined with an agreement to fold $30 million of the $35 million the county requested in improvements to Tulsa County’s Expo Square into the city’s Vision renewal proposal, avoided the threat of a tax increase from the county, but still leaves the county $20 million short of their anticipated needs.
So, on the Vision Tulsa renewal ballot, Tulsa County will offer a roughly $75 million package, funded by 0.05 percent sales tax over 15 years, for projects outside the city of Tulsa. We pass along the following list to provide you with the project details to inform your vote on the County’s Vision Tulsa plan, April 5th.
TOTAL COUNTY PROJECT NEEDS: $75 million
$53 Million for Infrastructure Improvements
Tulsa County maintains more than 700 miles of road and nearly 200 bridges. They are the backbone of our neighborhoods, business and education areas. Every municipality in Tulsa County benefits from the Tulsa County Maintenance Master Plan. In addition, there are dozens of miles of levees protecting areas along the Arkansas River. Improvements to levee systems are critical to public safety.
$14 Million for Parks & Quality of Life Projects
Tulsa County Parks are some of the finest and largest parks in the region. People visit our parks about 1.5 million times per year, and thus need capital improvements to meet an ever growing demand. The County’s ability to service our visitors is hinged on having the capital dollars necessary to maintain and create public spaces that promote healthy lifestyles.
$8 Million for County Capital Improvements
The county has long struggled with antiquated space in buildings and enough parking to accommodate the thousands of people who use the court house. Solving these long-standing issues will allow the county to operate in a more efficient fashion and serve the public’s need for ease while navigating our facilities.
Road Projects – $52,900,000.00
Road project priority listed by the Engineering Department
District 3 – 121st St. So. Elwood to US Hwy 75
Serves Jenks/Glenpool
Four-lane, curb and gutter with storm sewers. Intersection improvements at Elwood, including traffic signal installation. Replacement and widening of two deficient or load rated brides.
Average Daily Traffic – 2,000 – 6,000
Secondary Arterial – Good Condition
District 1 – 86th Street North – US Hwy 75 to Memorial Drive
Serves Owasso
Four-lane, curb and gutter with storm sewers. Intersection improvements at Memorial and Sheridan, including traffic signal installation or modification.
Average Daily Traffic – Over 10,000
Primary Arterial – Fair Condition
District 1 – 193rd E. Ave 31st St. So. to 51st St. So
Serves Broken Arrow/Tulsa
Intersection improvements at 31st and 41st, including traffic signal installation and left turn lanes.
Average Daily Traffic – Over 10,000
Primary Arterial – Poor Condition
District 2 – Wekiwa Road 129th W. Ave to 177th W Ave
Serves Sand Springs
Repair roadway base, as needed, new asphalt surfacing, wider shoulder and guard rail replacement. Possibly alter alignment and/or profile grade to enhance safety.
Average Daily Traffic – 1,000-2,000
Secondary Arterial – Very Bad Condition
District 2 – Bridge on Edison East of 65th W. Ave.
Serves Tulsa
Replace a 17 ton rated bridge with a structure capable of accommodating overweight, oversized loads that frequent this route. (Potential for a Creek Nation Tiger Grant)
Average Daily Traffic – 1,000–2,000
Secondary Arterial – Low Rated
District 2 – 41st St. So. 137th W Ave to 193rd W. Ave.
Serves Sand Springs
Reconstruct two lane roadway with new base and surfacing from 137th W. Ave. to 157th W. Ave., including intersection rebuild at 157th W. Ave. Mill and overlay from 157th W. Ave. to 193rd W. Ave.
Average Daily Traffic – 2,000-6,000
Primary Road – Bad Condition
District 1 – 51st St. So. 177th E. Ave. to 193rd E. Ave.
Serves Broken Arrow/Tulsa
Four-lane, curb and gutter with storm sewers. Intersection improvements at 177th E. Ave. (Lynn Lane) and 193rd E. Ave. (County Line) including traffic signal modification.
Average Daily Traffic – Over 10,000
Secondary Arterial – Poor Condition
District 1 – Bridge on 137th E. Ave. over Horsepen Creek
Serves Collinsville
Replace structurally deficient bridge with approaches. Widen roadway to two lanes with wider shoulders.
Average Daily Traffic – 1,000-2,000
Secondary Arterial – Poor Condition
District 2 – 91st St. So. Elwood to US Hwy 75
Serves Jenks/Tulsa
Three or four lane roadway with curb and gutter, storm sewer, and bridge replacement. Possible intersection improvements at Elwood with signal modification.
Average Daily Traffic – 2,000-6,000
Secondary Arterial – Good Condition
School Traffic causes congestion
Road crosses levee with undersized structure in creek
District 3 – 171st St. So. US 64 to 161st E. Ave.
Serves Leonard/Bixby
Removal of the chip or asphalt surface, pulverizing or grinding the concrete pavement, applying an engineering fabric, relay the concrete pavement as a base with additional rock, as needed, and placing an asphalt surface on the roadway. Includes additional shoulder width and drainage improvements.
Average Daily Traffic – 0-1,000
Local Road in Very Bad Condition
District 2 – Bridge on 209th W. Ave. No. of 61st St. So.
Serves Sand Springs/County
Just north of 61st St. So. Replace a one lane bridge that has structural issues with a structure that has two lanes with adequate shoulders. School bus route.
Average Daily Traffic – 0-1,000
Secondary Arterial – Poor Condition
District 3 – 161st E. Ave. 171st St. So. to 181st St. So.
Serves Leonard/Bixby
Major base repair, asphalt leveling course and topping, shoulder widening and drainage improvements.
Average Daily Traffic – 0-1,000
Secondary Arterial – Very Bad Condition
District 3 – Harvard 141st St. So. to 151st St. So.
Serves Bixby
Replace bridge with future four lane structure. Raise approaches above flood plain.
Average Daily Traffic – 1,000-2,000
Secondary Arterial – Good Condition
District 1 – Maintenance Facility
Serves Tulsa County
Funds to assist with construction of new maintenance facility, including shop with offices, equipment sheds, site development, access roadway and offsite utility installation expenses.
District 3 – Maintenance Facility
Serves Tulsa County
Funds to assist with construction of new maintenance facility, including shop with offices, equipment sheds, site development, access roadway and offsite utility installation expenses.
Quality of Life Parks Projects – $14 million
LaFortune Park Improvements
Resurface and rebuild trail
Resurface and rebuild LaFortune Park Trail – one of the busiest walking/jogging trails in the state. Mud and washout problems occur from existing surface material creates challenges with varying elevations.
Replace perimeter fence
Most of the parks fence is 40 plus years old and is damaged in several places. The fence also needs to be at least 6 feet tall.
Splash Pad
Close and demolish existing pool, install a well-developed Splash Pad/Water play environment with repurposed water system will reduce overall park utility costs and irrigate portions of the picnic area, golf course fairways and outlying areas.
Replace existing Par 3 lights
This is the only lighted Par 3 golf course in the State of Oklahoma. The original light poles were installed in 1970 and the light fixtures replacement parts are unavailable. Upgrading the lights will make them increasingly more energy efficient.
Renovate Par 3 golf course
Originally built in 1960’s
Replace Existing Driving Range Lights
The existing lights are 30 years old, with aging wooden poles and non-energy efficient light fixtures. Golf competition is highly competitive in the Metro area and the driving range is one of the last major improvements needed on the golf course complex.
Replace Exercise Court
Existing exercise court was removed for safety reasons three years ago. The park users continually request that it be restored.
Chandler Park Park Improvements
Chandler Park will include a Splash Pad/Water Play environment
Replacing the existing swimming pool with a well-designed Splash Pad/Water play environment. The design includes a re-purposed water system that will reduce overall park utility costs and can irrigate portions of the park to enhance turn conditions for baseball and football fields.
New swimming pool (25 meter/6 lanes/bath house)
The existing pool is 50 plus years old and is the only major attraction to the park. This pool serves the west side Tulsa County community.
Redevelop Lower-Level Park
The Master Plan for Chandler Park should be completed by year-end 2015. The Master Plan will guide us in determining the best use for that area of the park.
Replace existing ball field fencing (Park 5 field complex)
The return of youth baseball requires an upgrade to the facility to create a safer environment. The original fence was installed in 1984.
O’Brien Park
Renovate Exterior O’Brien Recreation Center
The original center was built 48 years ago. In the late 1970’s an exterior spray on material was added to the original exterior, however, the building needs to be updated to enhance the improvements made to the park in the past 10 years.
Renovate interior of O’Brien Park Recreation Center
The interior finishes are also 48 years old and in dire need of updating to enhance the work done from the original Vision 2025 funds and 4 to Fix I and II funds.
Completely rebuild existing parking lot for Recreation Center
The existing parking lot for the recreation center is sloped right at the east exterior outside wall of the facility. This causes water to seep into the rooms and the gym area of the center.
Splash Pad
Replace the existing swimming pool with a well-designed Splash Pad/Water play environment with re-purposed water system that will reduce overall park utility costs and can irrigate portions of the park to enhance turf conditions for the baseball and football fields.
Haikey Creek Park
Replace existing ball field fencing (softball complex)
The original fencing for this complex was built in 1978. The fencing needs to be 6 feet tall minimum height.
South Lake
Replace existing pond liners at the golf course
Existing liners are 27 years old, are damaged and leak extensively. We currently pump water from Pole Cat Creek into the ponds to maintain pond levels and irrigate golf course.
Replace perimeter fence
The existing fence is wood post and rail and is 27 years old. The fence rotting is a constant maintenance problem for the maintenance crew.
County Capital Needs – $8 million
Courthouse Improvements – Address structural/electrical/mechanical needs of the county courthouse and administration buildings.
Garage – Address parking needs for the growing number of users of the county courthouse.
Social Services – Structural/electrical/facility upgrades needed
Editor’s Note: Smart Growth Tulsa, Incorporated convened a Special Meeting of its Advisory Board on February 19th, 2016 to consider the four Vision Tulsa sales tax proposals. City Councilor’s Ewing and Bynum were our guests and answered questions from advisory board members about the proposals.
After the councilors left our meeting, Advisory Board members had a lengthy discussion about all four of the ballot questions, which were considered individually, and in depth, to determine what recommendations the board wished to make to our Trustees in regard to the organization taking an official position on each.
SGT’s adopted Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws clearly define our organization’s option to advocate for or against tax proposals and candidates for local office. That said, it is clear from our discussions that the sentiments to exercise that option will be used judiciously, and only in cases where very compelling reasons exist to do so.
Primarily we seek to help people evaluate specific proposals, line by line, as to how they relate to smart growth principles. We want to deepen the discussion of smart growth principles as they apply to Tulsa when it comes to advocating and shaping smart public policies.
In an era of headlines and sound bites, we want to be careful not to conflate SGT support of any given political proposal with the wholesale alignment of that proposal with smart growth principles – or to unintentionally short change the depth of a more nuanced view of the issues at stake in the process.
Grounding all of our recommendations in a clear principle-based approach will lend credence to our positions and prevent them from coming across as the outcome of a subjective vote by a group with a political agenda.
With those ideas in mind, the Advisory Board voted to publicly support the transportation tax proposal, and to not take an official position on the others, favoring instead, the publication of a series of articles helping voters fully understand both the pros and cons of the issues.
