City leaders form coalition opposing proposed countywide jail sales tax

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

A group of local leaders have formed a coalition opposing a proposed countywide sales tax being considered by Oklahoma County Commissioners to fund construction of a new county jail.

The coalition includes Midwest City Mayor Matt Dukes, Del City Mayor Floyd Eason, Del City Ward 1 Councilman Michael Dean, Midwest City Mayor-elect Rick Rice, Mid-Del School Board member Gina Standridge, State Rep. Andy Fugate (District 94), and Midwest City Vice Mayor Pat Byrne, among others.

In June 2022, Oklahoma County voters approved a $260 million general obligation bond to build a new jail, with commissioners indicating it would not require a countywide sales tax. Rising costs and revised estimates have since led county officials to reconsider.

In a letter to municipal leaders across the county, Dukes outlined the coalition’s concerns.

“The Oklahoma County Jail has been plagued by persistent problems for an extended period,” he wrote. “The facility has suffered from inadequate management and insufficient funding from the Oklahoma County Commissioners.”

Dukes said commissioners had broken a promise to voters.

“They assured the public that this bond would not lead to a county-wide sales tax,” he said. “Unfortunately, cost estimates for the project were miscalculated, and the commissioners are now seeking approval for an ongoing county-wide sales tax intended to cover the expenses of the new jail and additional projects.”

Coalition members argue the tax would strain municipal budgets.

“Sales tax is the sole source of operational revenue for municipalities,” Dukes said. “The county-wide sales tax would reduce the already limited funds available for communities to provide essential services.”

Dukes said it is about a broader issue of trust.

“Trust is not granted automatically; it is earned through transparency, accountability, and consistent follow-through. At this juncture, voters must determine whether confidence has been sufficiently restored,” Dukes wrote.

In addition to opposing the tax, the coalition put forward three recommendations: returning operational authority of the jail to the elected county sheriff to restore clear accountability; developing a data-driven staffing matrix meeting national correctional standards, with transparent hiring and expanded staff training; and commissioning an independent engineering firm to assess the existing facility’s structural integrity and renovation potential before any new funding measures are pursued.