Latest news with #ClaremoreAreaChamberofCommerce
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cherokee Nation leaders speak in Claremore on state of nation
The Cherokee Nation is committed to continued investment in Rogers County, said the nation's deputy chief during an address last Wednesday in Claremore. Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner and Kevin Easley Jr., who represents Claremore on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, delivered remarks at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs for the Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce's first State of the Cherokee Nation event. Warner and Easley discussed topics ranging from the Cherokee Nation's fiscal impact to the changes it hopes to bring to Claremore Indian Hospital. As Rogers County's representative on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, Easley said he's sought to bring resources to the community since he was elected in 2023. He said Warner has used his sway as deputy chief to do just that. Warner drove the Cherokee Nation to donate $4 million to Rogers State University's STEM building project, Easley said, and he assembled an emergency meeting just after the May 2024 tornado to coordinate assistance for Claremore. "He never fails to take me aside and ask that question of what's important for this community," Easley said. "He understands that we know what we need best here. ... He listens with his ears and his heart." Easley said that in the wake of the tornado, the Cherokee Nation assembled a task force to study how to improve the nation's disaster response. That culminated in Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.'s signing into law the Cherokee Nation Emergency Management Act, which establishes a fund of up to $5 million reserved for helping communities after disasters. The Cherokee Nation gives more than a third of the revenue it generates from car tag sales to public schools to use for specific purposes, such as teacher salaries or facility upgrades. Rogers County schools received a combined $743,893 this year at a ceremony in March. Warner said nothing is more important to him than public education — he attended Sallisaw Public Schools and taught chemistry before entering tribal government — and he wants the tribe to ensure kids get the education they deserve. "What if you need a new teacher?" Warner said. "What if you are needing to pay for a new cook to come into school and you don't have that opportunity — it's not in the budget, it's not going to be there. That's why the Cherokee Nation does what it does." The Cherokee Nation is in talks with the federal Indian Health Service to purchase Claremore Indian Hospital. Hoskin has said IHS has never adequately delivered health care, and the tribe aims to fully assume the hospital's operations by the end of 2025. The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians passed a resolution in April in opposition to the Cherokee Nation's takeover of the hospital. Warner said the tribe plans to update Claremore Indian Hospital in the image of its sprawling health care campus in Tahlequah. "You see that state-of-the-art building, you go inside, it's like a museum when you walk in there," Warner said. "That's our dream, that's our vision of what we want to do here." The Cherokee Nation recently released its Fiscal Year 2023 Economic Impact Report. Warner said it showed the nation's economic impact — wages, purchases of goods and services, etc. — totals $3.14 billion annually. In Rogers County, the tribe employs 903 people and provided more than $50 million in household income in 2023. Warner said though he is proud of the numbers, he cares more about the heartbeats behind them. "It does not happen alone, folks," Warner said. "I can tell you that happened because of the diligence of the feet and the work of the individuals that came before I, that came before Kevin [Easley], that came before [former Tribal Councilor] Keith [Austin]. We're talking hundreds of years ago. We're talking about our ancestors that made it along the forced removal called the Trail of Tears."
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sales tax increase kicks in July 1; council incumbents keep seats
Claremore's sales tax rate will rise from 3% to 4% July 1. The city asked voters on the April 1 ballot whether to add a penny to Claremore sales tax. About 64% of voters said yes. Combined with the state (4.5%) and county (1.5%) sales tax rates, shoppers will pay a 10% sales tax in Claremore city limits. People will pay an extra $1 for every $100 they spend. Starting next fiscal year, the city will reap an additional $6 million in sales tax annually. Claremore collected $15.5 million in sales tax in Fiscal Year 2024. Unlike the three restricted pennies that make up Claremore's current sales tax collection, the city can use the newly approved penny how it likes. City Manager John Feary said the city will primarily use the new tax revenue to fund infrastructure. "Thank you, Claremore, for believing in our future and committing to a stronger, more sustainable community," Feary said. "Your support drives us forward." The Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce had urged its members to vote for the sales tax increase. Spokesperson Ashley May said the chamber is glad voters approved it. "This tax increase will have a big, positive impact on our local businesses and will help improve the city's infrastructure and amenities for both residents and visitors," May said. The city billed its sales tax campaign "A Penny for Progress." At Chamber luncheons and a series of March town hall meetings, Feary told attendees Claremore's future — particularly its infrastructure — would hinge on boosting the sales tax rate. The city has $387 million worth of unmet infrastructure needs on top of its $67 million five-year plan, he said. These range from maintenance of Claremore's aging roads and sewers to improvements to Claremore's electric infrastructure. Opponents of the sales tax measure said they couldn't afford a sales tax hike and argued the city should spend what it has more responsibly. Feary said during his campaign the city would have no other way to raise the money it needs to maintain its infrastructure and keep its savings stocked. Many supporters said they preferred raising sales tax to raising utility rates because it would burden individuals less. "One of the key benefits of this tax is that it spreads the cost of supporting the city across everyone who shops, dines, or enjoys activities in Claremore, not just the residents," May said. "Given that tourism is a major industry here, this is a great opportunity for our city." Julie Dermody, secretary of the Rogers County Election Board, said 12% of city voters turned out for the April 1 election. There were 1,425 votes cast on the sales tax question; 1,495 people voted on Claremore's unsuccessful April 2023 sales tax proposition. Claremore City Council Melissa Cottom (Ward 1) and Brian Callender (Ward 2) won re-election to Claremore City Council. Jonathan Bruckerhoff picked up the vacant Ward 3 seat. The vote totals were as follows: Ward I: — Melissa Cottom (incumbent): 798 votes, 64.8% — Kristi Saul: 433 votes, 35.2% Ward II (2-year): — Brian Callender (incumbent): 710 votes, 58% — Michael Barone: 515 votes, 42% Ward II (4-year): — Justin Michael (incumbent, winner by acclamation) Ward III: — Jonathan Bruckerhoff: 657 votes, 54% — Mark Peek: 559 votes, 46% Ward IV: — Lindsey Erwin (incumbent, winner by acclamation) Callender, who supported Claremore's sales tax increase, said April 1 was a great day all around for Claremore, and he was happy people voted for the city's future. Barone, his opponent, said the "good old boys'" club won. He was upset Claremore Mayor Debbie Long had advocated for Callender and other candidates on her personal Facebook account — she has a separate mayoral page. Bruckerhoff — whom Long and other sitting council members also supported — said he was thankful to be part of the city's improvement process. He thanked his opponent, Peek, for a friendly campaign. Peek said running for city council was educational and showed him the dedication of Claremore's leadership. "There is more to do, but they are working within their ability to do so," Peek said. "The tax increase should give them more funds to make this happen. Claremore is a great place to live."
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TO DO: Hear Gov. Kevin Stitt speak over breakfast at Claremore Chamber event
About the event What: Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce Issue Forum with Gov. Kevin Stitt When: 8 to 9:30 a.m., Monday Where: Rogers State University, Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center Ballroom, 1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd. in Claremore Event highlights 1. Gov. Kevin Stitt, Oklahoma's chief executive since 2019, will speak about education, economic development, infrastructure, Oklahoma's future and other topics. 2. The Chamber will provide a breakfast buffet for attendees, sponsored by Claremore-based MST Manufacturing. 3. Attendees must register for the event online at or by calling the Chamber's office at 918-341-2818. Tickets are $25 for Chamber members, $50 for non-members and $500 for eight-person corporate tables. Why attend? Barby Myers, president of the Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce, said the event will be a rare opportunity for the public to see the governor face-to-face and ask him questions. Myers said residents should consider attending because their voices will shape the future of Oklahoma. 'This forum offers our local business community and residents the chance to engage with our governor and gain a better understanding of the policies and initiatives that impact our daily lives," Myers said.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Claremore senator: It's a difficult budget year at State Capitol
Drafting the state's budget has been more challenging this year than past years, said Claremore's state senator at a Feb. 28 address. Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, said this is due in part to lower revenue from the grocery sales tax cut and potentially higher Medicaid costs. Seifried — along with Reps. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore, and Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, — discussed the budget process and other topics at the Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce's Eggs & Issues event. The three lawmakers shared what they've done at the Oklahoma State Capitol since the legislature convened Feb. 3. This session marks Seifried's third year in Oklahoma City — she first won election to the state Senate in November 2022. Seifried sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for vetting state agency budgets and other spending. She said state agencies are asking for $1 billion in increases to their budgets this year. "That's our job to sort through that," Seifried said. "This is a really difficult budget year, as far as the picture, for a variety of reasons." One is the state will reap less revenue this fiscal year because of the grocery sales tax cut. The 4.5% tax lapsed Aug. 29, 2024 — the Oklahoma Tax Commission calculated the state would lose out on about $239 million in Fiscal Year 2025 and $418 million next fiscal year. Another is the federal government may require Oklahoma to pay significantly more to offer Medicaid to able-bodied adults. Oklahoma voters approved an expansion to Medicaid to cover more adults in 2020, and since then, the federal government has footed 90% of the bill. Congress is considering changing the cost split to 60% federal, 40% state. Seifried said that could cost Oklahoma about $600 million annually. "Our ask to our federal delegation is ... if this were to happen, please don't just make it happen overnight," Seifried said. "We would be able to float it one year, but then the next year not ... it's really different this year trying to figure out a budget." Lepak is sponsoring a bill that could cut Oklahomans' income taxes but drop the state's FY 2026 revenue by up to $108 million. House Bill 1539, co-sponsored by Lepak and Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, would require the State Board of Equalization to compare FY 2025 tax collection to FY 2023's in December. If FY 2025's revenue exceeds FY 2023's by $300 million or more, the state would cut personal income tax by 0.25% across all income levels. This is the "path" to entirely cutting Oklahoma's 4.75% income tax that Gov. Kevin Stitt spoke about in his State of the State address, Lepak said. He said his is one of several bills moving through the legislature toward this purpose. "It's an idea that's getting work, and that's probably the headline [of my bills]," Lepak said. Other items the lawmakers discussed included: — The House of Representatives' new oversight committee structure, which requires each bill to pass two committees before making it to the floor instead of just one. "The idea is a better product, more eyes on something," Lepak said. — House Bill 1276, Seifried's bid to ban cell phones during the school day. This was the first bill to clear the full House this session. "I think it can really help our students, and it can help our teachers," Seifried said. "I get emails from all across the state saying, 'Please pass this.'" — House Bill 1076, Hildebrant's "Food Truck Freedom Act." Cities and counties make their own rules for food trucks under state law, but Hildebrant's bill would require the state to promulgate regulations that would apply statewide. "This new bill will have a state licensure," Hildebrant said. "We're still looking for safety and public health ... and the cities still have significant oversight." — House Bill 2728, the Republican caucus' "Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny" Act. The REINS Act, which received full House approval, would require state agencies to get extra legislative approval for new rules with a fiscal impact of $1 million or more. — House Concurrent Resolution 1004, adopted by both chambers and on the way to Secretary of State Josh Cockroft's desk for final approval. The consent decree will reduce wait times to treat defendants declared mentally incompetent to stand trial. "The new agreement is being touted as saving the state about $70 million over the previous agreement," Lepak said.
