Monday at 11 a.m. KGOU will air Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett’s State of the City speech (lots of uppercase letters in that lead). Listening to Cornett review the success OKC has seen in the past decade or two, I can’t help but think that MAPS is the key.
Yes, taxes.
It’s a five-letter word at 23rd and Lincoln unless the word “cut” is included in close proximity. The StateImpact Oklahoma team did a good job looking at the success of the MAPS tax.
I can’t help but wonder what a targeted state tax increase could mean for the state? I don’t even know if that is possible, but my guess is if you told Oklahomans they were going to get 1,265 miles of upgraded roads, better municipal water supplies, upgraded schools and better access to mental health care, and came up with a plan like Oklahoma City did, you might be surprised at the level of support.
Submitting a tax increase to the people might just pass. Should the people be given a choice in the matter?