Del City Leaders Asking Voters To Approve Sales Tax Increase

The area near Sooner Road and 29th Street in Del City used to be home to dilapidated apartments and old infrastructure, according to City Manager Mark Edwards.

But the city partnered with businesses to get the area up to par and the success spread all down the street. “Stirred up like an ant hill,” Edwards said about the area around the On Cue and Dairy Queen.

It's that bustling new business development that they're trying to build on.  “We’ve got some good momentum going,” Edwards continued.

So, the city proposed a half-cent sales tax increase from 3-and-a-half cents to four cents.

“It will free up about half a million dollars a year in our general revenue funds,” Edwards told News 9.

Enough 'yes' votes means that money would be earmarked for new business incentives and neighborhood enhancement, according to Edwards.

“We want to improve parks in these neighborhoods. We want to improve lighting in these neighborhoods. We want to get sidewalks going so that the kids that go to school are walking out on the sidewalk, not on the street.”

Right now, he said they have to dip into that general fund to pay for improvements. So far this year, he said they've already spent $60,000 on code enforcement alone--tearing down homes, cutting grass, and draining money used for essentials.

“That takes away from my ability to keep the city fully-staffed.”

The change in sales tax would mean more out of your pocket, to make Del City a more attractive place to live.

The proposed increase goes to a vote on Sept. 8. Edwards said this is the first request for a permanent sales tax increase in 30 years.

City officials said this should not be confused with the one-and-a-half cent sales tax that is voted on in five-year increments.