By Scott Meeker and Will Blanchard
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. —
Residents voted overwhelmingly in favor Tuesday of a 0.65 percent sales tax increase earmarked for street projects.
The tax issue passed with 1,572 “yes” votes to 676 “no” votes.
The city’s sales tax will rise to 3.65 percent. Combined with county and state sales tax rates, the total sales tax within Miami’s city limits will be 9.5 percent. There is a 15-year sunset on the tax increase, which is estimated to generate between $10 million and $12 million over its life.
Mayor Brent Brassfield said Tuesday night that he was surprised by the margin of victory this time out, and that it was the result of a lot of hard work by city officials and staff members. Voters last year rejected a proposed sales tax for street projects.
“I think we were really effective in getting out the facts and figures this time,” Brassfield said. “That was the No. 1 reason. And the organization for this initiative was 100 percent better than last time. Last time, I made one presentation to one social organization. This time, we gave 10 different presentations.”
Voters expressed frustration with the condition of city streets as they left the polls on Tuesday afternoon.
“I voted for it, because the roads are so dad-gum bad, I can’t even get to my house,” said Miami resident Jack Hayes.
Ruth Robinson said she supported the tax because she’s tired of having to pay for costly repairs to her vehicle from damage caused by driving over potholes and cracks that are a common sight on local roads.
“Every time, I fall in a hole when I drive somewhere,” Robinson said. “I know it’s the highest tax anywhere, but what are you going to do?”
Pauline Sanders agreed that the streets need work, but she doesn’t believe increasing the city’s sales tax is the way to go.
“I have appealed to our City Council three times that Miami apply for a stimulus package or federal grant,” she said. “Sapulpa got it, and they fixed their streets and sidewalks.”
Brassfield said he hopes work can commence by the beginning of October.
“There are several things that will need to fall in place quickly,” he said, such as putting together an oversight committee for the project and establishing priorities for street repairs.
Those priorities will be guided by an analysis of municipal streets undertaken in 2006 by a Utah-based firm, Iworks. That undertaking resulted in a block-by-block assessment of all 112 miles of city streets.
Last time out
A proposed 1-cent sales tax for Miami street repairs was rejected by a margin of 53 votes in 2009. The vote was 327 in favor and 380 opposed.
