Stan Geiger

What Tulsa's "Leaders" Want

ADDENDUM:

XonOFF has posted a series of comments on this piece that do a good job of showing the goofiness of the property tax. However, there seems to be a minor misunderstanding I felt I should address.

First, the $330 tax bump figure noted below isn't my number. It's the Tulsa Beacon's number.

Second, the Beacon notes the increase would be for "a home assessed at $100,000." The report does not refer to a home with a market value of $100,000.

Granted, homes with assessed values of a hundred grand are not your average homes. But they do exist.

Just thought I'd point that out. I wouldn't want my readers thinking I'm in the business of spreading disinformation.

After years of neglect, Tulsa's street and bridges are in a bad way. Having created this mess, local politicians are now set to exploit it to the max. They want a butt-load of new tax money to fund their "plan." They screwed up, but they want you to pay for it---and pay for it through the nose.

From a report in the Tulsa Beacon:

Some possible elements of the plan that have been leaked to the public are:

• A half-penny permanent sales tax (pushed by Mayor Kathy Taylor)

• A general obligation bond to be repaid by property taxes (house payments)

• Extension of several years to the “temporary” Third Penny Sales Tax

• Diverting Tulsa County’s 4 to Fix the County sales tax to the city

• Diverting Vision 2025 county sales tax to the city

• Raising the city’s property tax (house payments) by 3.3 mills. That would mean an extra $330 a year in taxes for a home assessed at $100,000.

Another idea would be to make property owners adjacent to street improvements pay extra through higher property taxes.

What are we looking at here? Well, I see keeping sales taxes alive beyond their originally-designed lifespans---and adding to them. I see borrowing money that will increase property taxes, then increasing property taxes beyond that, then increasing them even more for people that are unfortunate enough to live next to streets that get improved.

We've got a problem, and the solution---according to the geniuses in office---is the biggest tax increase in Tulsa history. Any idiot can come with a "plan" like that.

And let's not forget that at the same time the politicians are floating this "plan," they are set to increase city utility rates on an annual basis.

And let's not forget that at the same time the politicians are floating this "plan," pseudo-government agency PSO is slamming people with higher electric bills.

And let's not forget that at the same time the politicians are floating this "plan," gasoline prices are at all-time highs and food prices are high and rising.

But hey, I don't want to be too pessimistic. If the politicians get their way, it won't be all bad. Bankruptcy lawyers will see a spike in business. Street contractors that bribe the right people will be swimming in money. Food banks won't have to worry about "sell-by dates." And the John 3:16 Mission---assuming it can get any money out of the rich folks---will be able to launch a massive expansion project.

---