Voters in Pawhuska can vote on two questions related to the city’s sales tax on August 22, 23 and 27.
The ballot questions ask whether the payment of a quarter-penny sales tax to fund an economic development program should continue until December 31, 2029, and whether the payment of a three-quarter-penny sales tax to fund street, curb and sidewalk improvements, as well as water and sewer improvements, should also continue until December 31, 2029.
Early voting will be held on Thursday and Friday, August 22 and 23, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Osage County Board of Elections office at 630 Kihekah Ave. Election Day voting will be held on Tuesday, August 27, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Disciples Church at 101 E. 12th St. and at the Calvary Baptist Church at 620 E. 15th St.
A “yes” vote on each ballot question will be considered approval of maintaining the tax. Sample ballots are available in paper form from the Osage County Board of Elections or online through the Oklahoma State Board of Elections voter portal. For more information, contact the County Board of Elections at 918-287-3036.
Staff from the city manager’s office and some members of the Pawhuska City Council spoke in favor of keeping the two sales taxes during a council meeting on August 13.
“It is very, very important for our community that we pass this,” said Deputy City Manager Carol Jones.
Second District Councilwoman and Mayor Susan Bayro asked if fliers could be made to encourage a yes vote on the sales tax. City Manager Jerry Eubanks said he had some signs with the message “Vote Yes.”
Jones told the Pawhuska Journal Capital on August 14 that the penny of sales tax to be decided in the upcoming election would raise about $520,000 in the 2023-2024 fiscal year – $130,000 for economic development and $390,000 for municipal infrastructure.
In another council discussion on Aug. 13, Bayro suggested scheduling work sessions to figure out how the city government can address the priorities contained in two recently completed planning documents. Pawhuska has a new capital improvement plan and a new comprehensive plan for the overall development of the community.
“It is public, everyone sees what we do,” said Bayro, stressing the importance of open consultations for strengthening public trust in the council’s planning activities.
The council did not vote on the proposal, but Jones noted that an item regarding scheduling work sessions could be placed on the council’s next agenda.
