November 12 would be the perfect time to send a message to city leaders and their chamber overlords that it is time to stop the constant tax increases in Tulsa.

That is when Tulsans will vote on a sales tax increase package that will siphon away $639,000,000.00 in sales taxes.

The mayor, the city councilors and the chambercrats will try to sell this vote in the same way they always have. TV spots will say it only costs “pennies a day” and that most of the new taxes will go toward roads and bridges.

Their pals at the liberal daily newspaper and most TV and radio stations will trumpet how wonderful this tax increase it and how it will transform Tulsa into a “global city.” They will show pictures of the miserable shape of Tulsa streets (and they are miserable). And the news coverage will not include anyone arguing to vote no on this monstrous tax hike. Plus, there will be little mention of the rat-holing of some of this tax increase in a “rainy day fund.” While it is prudent for municipal government to hold some funds in reserve, this is way too much money and too little oversight on how this can be spent.

The priorities of this package aren’t based on traffic counts – they are based on political considerations. The vote will have three parts: 1. Roads and transportation; 2. Capital projects, and 3. Rainy Day Fund (really, a slush fund).

Tulsa’s government is getting bigger and bigger and more and more expensive. Citizens are not getting a good “bang for their buck.”

The only way to break the stranglehold that “tax and spend” officials have is to defeat this tax increase on November 12.