The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Ok, not shocking. Expected.

This is from the recent state bond issue that was killed in the supreme court. Oklahoma City's funding for the Native American Center came through but Tulsa's funding for the river was killed. And now the state senate may not pass the measure for the dams. According the World Owasso's own Randy Brogdon is at it again and is part of the effort to kill the funding.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=61&articleid=20090331_61_A16_Abondp55156

Gasp!

Are you telling me Oklahoma City made a deal whereby both Tulsa and OKC got something from State tax money, and after Tulsa legislators voted on the measure it looks like Tulsa will see no benefit from the measure at all?

Are Oklahoma City legislators that smart or are Tulsa's consistently that ineffective?

So, what recourse do we have? Can we have the whole bill scrapped and force OKC to pay back any funds received?

I like you. You make me laugh.

We shouldn't even try making deals with them.  I am starting to turn into a serious no state tax, limited state government.  Keep it local and we can tax ourselves and do whatever we want with it.  Lets secede and make Tulsa a city-state lol. What the heck does the state government do for us that we couldnt do? But there again,,, who the heck is supposed to be on our side making things happen for us in OKC and making sure its done RIGHT!?  You know danged well they are laughing at us down there. I have heard people tell me they do. Behind closed doors they are chuckling away and rolling on the floor with laughter. We got em again, those disorganized, idiots in Tulsa. More money for the rest of us now.

This is what should have happened.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Sequoyah

So, the question becomes... "What do we do about it?" And don't reply "elect better representatives" because it doesn't seem to help. No matter the representative that we put in, nor what they accomplish, it seems to be later steamrolled by the state.

If we are not gaining any benefit from the state (and this has been happening for a while), then what recourse have Tulsans and members of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area? Do we appeal to a court? Do we protest by not sending state taxes to the capitol? Do we seceed from Oklahoma?

I wouldn't discount the "elect better state officials" idea since we're talking about a case were the official from NE Oklahoma is trying to stop a NE Oklahoma project. My representative doesn't do much, I'm not entirely sure he shows up.

Seriously, of the 8.517 cents we pay in sales tax in the City of Tulsa - the money which pays for the lion's share of everything in this city, including public safety (fire and police) and the streets - only 3 cents actually goes to the City.  4.5 cents goes to the state, for who knows what, seriously, I have no idea what they spend it on.  Tulsa County collects 1.0176 cents which goes for Vision 2025 (.6 cents, a miniscule amount when you consider all the projects and their benefits), the jail (.25 cents) and 4 to Fix (.1676 cents).  So our public safety and quality of life in this City, for the most part, depend on the 3 cents we pay for every dollar we spend in Tulsa.  At least we can be proud of the fact that we financed everything that was built in this City ourselves with no outside help (give or take a dollar).  

But Owasso LOVES Randy Brogdon.

And it's just an excuse, Metro Tulsa has almost 1/3 of the state's population and should have something like 1/3 of the Senate representing the region. out of that large a sample you are always going to get some grandstanding pander-monkey Senator who is thinking more about his potential run for Governor than the good of the region he was elected to represent. The expectation that all Senators for the Tulsa region have to vote “yes” is a bald attempt to find a reason, any reason, to vote against projects in Tulsa.

Great roads?
 ;D

No no, we pay fuel taxes for our nice gravel interstates. They must be spending on the money on important work issues like paperwork to block biologists from speaking at OU.

The entire tax structure is messed up in Oklahoma (and everywhere else, but . . .).  Our tag fees go to schools.  Portions of our fuel taxes go to the operating fund.  Then our roads are unfunded and we can't figure it out.

If only there was something or things we could tax that would roughly correlate with road use and could provide funding for roads . . . THINK, THINK.  Well, other than making all roads to Tulsa toll roads I got nothin'.    Making roads to OKC toll roads is NOT an option, maybe tolls on city bridges in Tulsa?

FWIW, I have no particular allegiance to the State of Oklahoma - I enjoy living here and have adopted the State as my home (sports teams and all).  But its not that strong of a tie.

Tulsa would lose affiliation with the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but from a practical standpoint that's about it.  Tulsa has a negative tax relationship with the State of Oklahoma, we fund projects and programs for the rest of the State.  We have 60% of the exports of the State, we send governmental jobs down the turnpike, we control much of the water resources of the state, our tolls fund a large portion of ODOT, we don't share their airport . . .   from a practical standpoint it would actually work.   

I have no zeal for a succession movement, but I wouldn't bother to oppose one either. Maybe talk of the idea will actually get Tulsa a fair shake in the State House. 

Brogdon is a dildo.

That is an insult to sexual devices.

Having these dams would make us a viable city.

We don't want our young people staying here. We don't want to see economic growth through development.

This is Tulsa, people. Our money goes to Indian cigarette shops and Casinos. Our TU students get the heck out of Dodge when they graduate.

Our retired oil barons only want to spend their donations on revitalizing our downtown slums, so they they can reminisce on days long gone.

FWIW, Metro Tulsa's portion of the state's population is almost exactly 1/4.  (916,000/3,642,000)

That would make Owasso home to the states biggest dildo. Yet another Green Country acccolade for the state's fastest growing city. :P

If it means anything, I'm sure Jenks will get their dam. The inertia for it is strong. The players are capable and the money is on the table. Is it really a good thing for the area though? I'm not convinced that the benefits outweigh the costs.

Randy Terrill and Moore would have something to say about that...

Passed House committee: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20090406_298_0_OKLAHO363206

Wonder if Meacham speaking out about the lack of revenue shortfall called a few dogs off.

Diane Hambrick in a Tulsa World Letter said don't support the dams.

Who is she and what does she know?

 Well I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping this passes the next hurdle.

The bill passed the state senate and is now with the governor

We all may have to duck for flying pigs soon.

Could we have an art deco inspired flying pig motif stamped into the dams?

Artist, could you mock something up?

I will get right on it lol

We could also get flying pigs put on the I-44 sound walls, like the running buffalos in OKC. 

When we get our state funded NBA team I think we have a name.

The NBA's Tulsa Flying Pigs playing on the Hell Hath Frozen Over Court at the BOK Center

Best I can do on a lunch break lol. Went ahead with the polished bronze flying pig on marble. Spare no expense ya know.  :P



(http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3298/pigflydecoplaqueweb.jpg)

That is Awesome, alert Kathy Taylor, we have a design.

Plus Karma for you.

WOW!  Put that on a t-shirt and sell it!  8)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/2352824470_87910c2571.jpg?v=0)

Smithers: Will you be donating that Million to the orphanage now sir?

Burns: I'd still rather not.

/good times.

Tolls do not provide a single penny for ODOT.  Tolls go to the OTA.  The OTA oversees toll roads, not ODOT.