4 days ago
Oktaha residents to decide on sales tax proposal
Oktaha Mayor June Hall said the upcoming sales tax election is key to advancing the town.
'This is a critical step for Oktaha,' Hall said. 'We work on a shoestring budget. There's been no stores here in Oktaha in just about 30 years.'
The proposed sales tax is 4%. Early voting is Thursday and Friday at the Muskogee County Election Board office from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. while the general election is Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Oktaha Volunteer Fire Department.
Muskogee County District 1 Commissioner Ken Doke campaigned in 2014 on economic development for his district and for the county.
'[Oktaha] hasn't had any businesses there that could generate sales tax, so there was never a need for one,' Doke said. 'One of the ideas I shared was bringing in a Dollar General — not just for convenience, but for the long-term potential it could bring to the community.'
Doke also said the result of the sales tax election is a decision for the people of Oktaha.
'If the annexation and sales tax pass, they will pick up the Dollar Store and the Convenient Store,' he said. 'They could then begin collecting sales tax. If it doesn't pass, they will collect nothing.'
Hall said the vote can lead to improvements and commerce.
'The sales tax is important to Oktaha so we can run the town,' Hall said. 'The sales tax was proposed months ago in one of our meetings. We're trying to improve Oktaha the best we can.'
Doke also explained on a Facebook post how important he thinks the vote is to the town.
'I hope people realize what's truly at stake — not just a store, but a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape Oktaha's future on its own terms,' he said. 'Whatever the outcome, we'll keep working to bring opportunities like this to communities across Muskogee County.'
Solve the daily Crossword
