The debates in Oklahoma City over the wisdom of coughing over arena money while other pressing issues exist is painfully familiar to longtime Seattle residents.
This is absolutely happening. One of the key pieces that is extremely poorly described in national articles about the stadium funding is the “temporary” tax. MAPS is a sales tax that has been around since the early 1990’s and its revenue has been directed to various improvement projects around the city. It’s temporary in that each time the goal projects have a 5-10 year window and the tax needs voter re-approval afterwards, but it’s been very popular in what it’s accomplished. Taxes on OKC residents will not rise as a result of this, it’s just that the MAPS money will be directed towards the new arena instead of things like renovating the convention center or building a light rail (current projects funded by MAPS).
This is absolutely happening. One of the key pieces that is extremely poorly described in national articles about the stadium funding is the “temporary” tax. MAPS is a sales tax that has been around since the early 1990’s and its revenue has been directed to various improvement projects around the city. It’s temporary in that each time the goal projects have a 5-10 year window and the tax needs voter re-approval afterwards, but it’s been very popular in what it’s accomplished. Taxes on OKC residents will not rise as a result of this, it’s just that the MAPS money will be directed towards the new arena instead of things like renovating the convention center or building a light rail (current projects funded by MAPS).