01/13/2026
🛡️ Oklahoma County Public Safety Investment Plan
Investing in Ourselves — Keeping Our Communities Safe Without Raising Property Taxes
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OVERVIEW
Oklahoma County currently operates without a county sales tax and relies primarily on property taxes and state appropriations.
This plan establishes a ⅝¢ county sales tax and a matching ⅝¢ use tax on internet and remote purchases. All funds are legally dedicated to public safety — without increasing property taxes.
Estimated Revenue: $120 million per year
Estimated Paid by Non-Residents: ~⅓ of total revenue
Non-residents who shop, dine, or purchase online in Oklahoma County help fund public safety, reducing the burden on local property owners.
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HOW THE MONEY IS USED
15-Year Jail Bond ($550M, Annual Payment ≈ $53.61M)
Purpose Annual Investment Share
Jail Construction (15-year bonds) $53.61M 44.7%
Jail Maintenance & Operations $36.52M 30.4%
Sheriff & Law Enforcement $11.05M 9.2%
Volunteer Fire Departments $5.48M 4.6%
Emergency Medical Services $1.16M 1.0%
Roads & Bridges $12.21M 10.2%
Total: $120M annually
Approximately one-third of each category funded by non-residents
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20-Year Jail Bond ($550M, Annual Payment ≈ $43.95M)
Purpose Annual Investment Share
Jail Construction (20-year bonds) $43.95M 36.6%
Jail Maintenance & Operations $35.5M 29.6%
Sheriff & Law Enforcement $10.0M 8.3%
Volunteer Fire Departments $5.0M 4.2%
Emergency Medical Services $1.0M 0.8%
Roads & Bridges $12.55M 10.5%
Total: $120M annually
Approximately one-third of each category funded by non-residents
Note: Percentages and amounts for 20-year bond adjusted to match total $120M.
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Post-Bond Funding (Years 16–30 or 21–30)
Once the jail is fully paid off, the same percentage allocations continue for maintenance, operations, and public safety programs. This ensures a consistent, predictable funding model.
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PROTECTING THE WORKFORCE & THE FACILITY
Oklahoma County already invests ≈$35M/year into jail operations. This plan protects and strengthens that commitment.
Livable Wages for Frontline Officers
• Competitive pay to recruit and retain deputies and correctional officers
• Reduced overtime, burnout, and turnover
Preventative Jail Maintenance
• Scheduled inspections and system upgrades
• Early repairs that prevent costly emergencies
• Fewer disruptions and safer operations
This approach prevents deterioration, lowers long-term costs, and ensures safe, constitutional jail operations.
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TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY
To ensure full transparency and protect taxpayers, the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners will adopt a formal public resolution clearly defining how every dollar is allocated.
The resolution will:
• Specify exact dollar amounts and percentages for each public safety purpose
• Legally dedicate sales and use tax revenues exclusively to public safety
• Prevent funds from being redirected to unrelated purposes
• Require ongoing public reporting for accountability
By locking the funding structure into a public resolution, taxpayers can see up front how the money will be used and hold county government accountable.
Transparency is a first priority — and this plan puts it in writing.
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30-YEAR IMPACT
• Jail fully paid off by Year 15 or 20, depending on bond term
• $324M invested in roads and bridges
• $300M invested in sheriff services
• Approximately one-third of annual funding paid by non-residents
• No property tax increase
• Stable, long-term public safety funding
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WHY THIS WORKS
• Permanently fixes the jail
• Stabilizes law enforcement and emergency services
• Repairs critical roads and bridges
• Requires non-residents to share the cost
• Protects property owners
• Locks funds into public safety by law
This plan delivers safer communities, a constitutional jail system, and long-term financial stability — without raising property taxes
