Noble Sees Revenue Shortfall

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

NOBLE, Oklahoma -- The slowdown in the economy is having an impact on government in all cities, large and small. The city of Noble lies just south of Norman, and it too has to tighten its belt.

Natives is Noble's newest retail store. Joyce Kreigh buys her nutritional supplements at Natives, and she says the economy hasn't forced her to cut back her shopping in Noble.

"These are necessary things I need here, food, you know, the medical stuff, the banking and all that," Kreigh said.

But overall retail buying has declined in Noble. Sales tax revenue is $95,000 below expectations, and city government has to economize.

"We don't have significant reserves, so what we are proposing to do right now is stop spending on anything we don't have to have," Noble City Manager Bob Wade said.

That means the fire department won't be getting its new brush pumper. And there probably won't be any raises this year.

Layoffs in city government are unlikely right now. So is a sales tax increase. What Noble needs is what every city needs, an uptick in the economy. That, plus a few new sales tax generating businesses.

Natives is the latest. But the owner believes she's not the last.

"Without mentioning any names, I do know of some other entities that are hopefuls to come to the area, but I don't want to mention them at this time," Natives Owner Kathy Sells said.

Noble is planning a 23 acre commercial park that will contain space for new retailers. And a developer is planning a new housing addition south of town.

"We would receive sales tax on all the building materials there, and as development is finished, we would sell water, wastewater and have sanitation revenue as well," Wade said.

Noble believes the present is manageable, and the future is bright.

Noble's current sales tax is set at 4 percent.