Sunday, June 7, 2009
DECEPTION
Jail Site HAS Been Chosen
The front page of the Examiner Enterprise Sunday, June 7th is deliberately deceptive, misleading, and disingenuous. Voters don't be mislead. Technically, the ballot language may be site neutral, but the county has already chosen its site, purchased its site and started preparing its site. If you give them your money, the jail WILL be at the corner of Adams and Oak. Once they have your money, what motivation would they have to change the site?
The county and newspaper are presenting a false choice. They say your choice is to vote yes (and get a jail) or vote no (and not get a jail). The real choice is to vote yes (and allow them to proceed with this inappropriate site) or to vote no (and demand that they choose a new site BEFORE they hold an election).
MORE DECEPTION
No Cap on Spending
Below you will find the exact wording from the ballot proposal you will be asked to vote for. Please read carefully!
Ballot Proposal
“A proposition providing for funds for Washington County, Oklahoma; authorizing levying a county excise (sales tax) of one-half (.50) of one (1) cent upon the gross proceeds derived from all sales to any person taxable under sales tax laws of Oklahoma, the proceeds of which to be deposited to a sales tax depository account with the Washington County Treasurer, pledged toward the retirement of indebtedness incurred therefore, payment of operations and maintenance expenses related thereto; and to be designated and used specifically as follows
“Acquisition, construction, and equipping a new Washington County Detention Facility; operating and maintaining the Washington County detention facility; and certain courthouse improvements;
“A portion of such sales tax, one-quarter (.25) of one (1) cent, shall have a limited duration of ten (10) years from the date of commencement, OR until principal and interest upon indebtedness incurred on behalf of Washington County by the Washington County correctional facilities authority in furtherance of the new county detention facility and certain courthouse improvements is paid in full, whichever occurs earlier; while the remaining portion of such sales tax, one-quarter (.25) of one (1) percent, to continue until repealed by a majority of the electors of Washington County in an election called for the purpose of posing said proposition; making provisions separable; and declaring an emergency.”
The county is allowed to propose as many ballots as necessary to provide voter's a responsible approach to building a new jail.
If the time for a jail is now, then why is the county not providing a responsible ballot proposal so voters would feel good about voting yes?
As voters, we need to demand the jail ballot proposal is a responsible one BEFORE they ask us to fund it!
Vote NO and tell your commissioners that you will NOT vote yes until they provide a SITE and a DOLLAR AMOUNT for the jail ballot proposal!
Jail Site HAS Been Chosen
The front page of the Examiner Enterprise Sunday, June 7th is deliberately deceptive, misleading, and disingenuous. Voters don't be mislead. Technically, the ballot language may be site neutral, but the county has already chosen its site, purchased its site and started preparing its site. If you give them your money, the jail WILL be at the corner of Adams and Oak. Once they have your money, what motivation would they have to change the site?
The county and newspaper are presenting a false choice. They say your choice is to vote yes (and get a jail) or vote no (and not get a jail). The real choice is to vote yes (and allow them to proceed with this inappropriate site) or to vote no (and demand that they choose a new site BEFORE they hold an election).
MORE DECEPTION
No Cap on Spending
Below you will find the exact wording from the ballot proposal you will be asked to vote for. Please read carefully!
Ballot Proposal
“A proposition providing for funds for Washington County, Oklahoma; authorizing levying a county excise (sales tax) of one-half (.50) of one (1) cent upon the gross proceeds derived from all sales to any person taxable under sales tax laws of Oklahoma, the proceeds of which to be deposited to a sales tax depository account with the Washington County Treasurer, pledged toward the retirement of indebtedness incurred therefore, payment of operations and maintenance expenses related thereto; and to be designated and used specifically as follows
“Acquisition, construction, and equipping a new Washington County Detention Facility; operating and maintaining the Washington County detention facility; and certain courthouse improvements;
“A portion of such sales tax, one-quarter (.25) of one (1) cent, shall have a limited duration of ten (10) years from the date of commencement, OR until principal and interest upon indebtedness incurred on behalf of Washington County by the Washington County correctional facilities authority in furtherance of the new county detention facility and certain courthouse improvements is paid in full, whichever occurs earlier; while the remaining portion of such sales tax, one-quarter (.25) of one (1) percent, to continue until repealed by a majority of the electors of Washington County in an election called for the purpose of posing said proposition; making provisions separable; and declaring an emergency.”
The county is allowed to propose as many ballots as necessary to provide voter's a responsible approach to building a new jail.
If the time for a jail is now, then why is the county not providing a responsible ballot proposal so voters would feel good about voting yes?
As voters, we need to demand the jail ballot proposal is a responsible one BEFORE they ask us to fund it!
Vote NO and tell your commissioners that you will NOT vote yes until they provide a SITE and a DOLLAR AMOUNT for the jail ballot proposal!
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