Edmond voters overwhelmingly approved two tax extension propositions on April 5. These renewals will maintain the city’s sales tax rate at the current 8.25 percent. Extensions will last 10 years, spanning from 2017 to 2027.
The first proposition, which passed with 80.1 percent of votes extends an existing one-cent general fund sales tax. The second proposition, with over 70 percent approval extends and repurposes a half-cent sales tax to supply capital improvements.
City officials, including Mayor Charles Lamb, have stressed the importance of these renewals in sustaining a thriving quality of life in Edmond.
The general fund facilitates nearly 35 percent of the police department's budget and 28.80 percent of the fire department’s budget. Since its introduction in 1977, the tax has been renewed four times. It has funded about $270 million of city services.
With the approval of Proposition 2, Edmondites can look forward to possible infrastructure and cultural augmentation projects such as city road renovations to alleviate traffic congestion and relocation and renovation of fire stations. This tax was originally passed in 2011 to fund the now completed, nearly $37 million public safety center in downtown Edmond.
Looking forward there are plans for a possible downtown revitalization project in the form of a new library, parking garage and a performing arts center in collaboration with University of Central Oklahoma. Other projects the city may undertake include improvement of sports facilities, parks and trails expansion and replacement of the police lake house.