ITEM TITLE:
Consider approving Ordinance No. 2024-___ relating to taxation; amending the Lawton City Sales Tax Code, Codified as Article 10-2 of Chapter 10 of the Lawton City Code, 2015; by the enactment of an amendment to Paragraph (D) under Section 10-2-205 of the Lawton City Code, 2015; levying and extending an existing excise tax of two and one-eighth percent (2.125%) in addition to all other excise taxes assessed and levied by the City of Lawton, Oklahoma and all other taxing authorities, upon the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales taxable under the sales tax laws of the State of Oklahoma; providing for extending the term of the existing excise tax from terminating on December 31, 2034, to a new termination date ending December 31, 2040, with the exception of a one percent (1%) existing excise tax which shall be permanent for an indefinite period; providing that the excise tax levied by this amended Paragraph (D) under Section 10-2-205 shall be cumulative to all other excise taxes levied by this Chapter or any other taxing authority; providing for codification; providing an effective date for Sections 1 and 2 of this Ordinance with approval of the Ordinance by City voters required; providing for severability; and requiring the full text to be published.
INITIATOR: Mayor and City Council
STAFF INFORMATION SOURCE: John Ratliff - City Manager; Kristin Huntley Interim Finance Director; and Timothy Wilson - Deputy City Attorney
BACKGROUND: Over the course of a series of meetings, the Mayor and Council have discussed at length, among themselves and with citizens attending, a 2024 sales tax proposition to be presented to Lawton voters in 2024. The election date for the sales tax proposition in 2024 will be August 27, 2024. The election documents necessary to call and hold the election on that date must be filed with the Comanche County Election Board on or before June 12, 2024.
The proposition, if approved, does not increase the existing City of Lawton sales taxes, but authorizes the levying and extending the term of the existing two and one-eighth percent (2.125%) excise tax authorized by Ordinance No. 19-30 from terminating on December 31, 2034 to a new termination date of December 31, 2040 with the exception of a one percent (1.00%) existing excise tax which shall be permanent for an indefinite period, effective, October 1, 2024, and will be in addition to other excise or sales taxes levied by the City or any other taxing authority, upon gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales to any person taxable under the Oklahoma Sales Tax Code.
EXHIBIT: Ordinance No. ___
KEY ISSUES: N/A
FUNDING SOURCE: General Fund - Election Expenses
STAFF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: Approve Ordinance No. 2024-___, waive the reading of the Ordinance, and read the title only.