With all four propositions passing for Yes Weatherford, plans are being made for new improvements for the City of Weatherford including a new airport terminal for Thomas P. Stafford Airport, a new police station and an indoor soccer complex, just to name a few.
Mayor Mike Brown said they more than likely will begin plans for the new airport terminal first.
“We will prioritize what we are doing,” Brown said. “We think the funding is already available on the airport terminal because of a $500,000 grant we received, so we will most likely look at this project first.”
The Yes Weatherford taxes will be levied beginning October 1 and continue for 10 years.
“We have a few months left to let the old sales tax finish,” Brown said. “Really, we will be going through our planning process for the next 3-4 months and will decide what we want to do.”
For Proposition 1, 1,263 voted “Yes,” or 62.8 percent, and 748 voted “No,” or 37.2 percent. This proposition will levy 0.52 percent of the penny sales tax for projects benefitting the City Weatherford. Those projects include, but are not limited to a new police station and 911 center improvements, a new airport terminal, improvements to the city’s pool, a Vietnam wall memorial, improvements to the Ag/Rodeo Arena and soccer facility improvements.
For Proposition 2, 1,136 voted “Yes,” or 56.57 percent, and 872 voted “No,” or 43.43 percent. This proposition will levy 0.28 percent of the penny sales tax for projects benefitting Southwestern Oklahoma State University. The money will help the university fund its rural healthcare education effort and facilities for Nursing, Pharmacy and Allied Health departments and for payments of debt service in connection with obligations issued by the city and any public trust to finance or refinance the referenced expenditures and related costs. It is capped at $7 million.
For Proposition 3, 1,236 voted “Yes,” or 61.55 percent, and 772 voted “No,” or 38.45 percent. This proposition will levy 0.15 percent of the penny sales tax for projects benefitting Weatherford Regional Hospital. The money will help fund the replacement, updating, purchase and maintenance for medical equipment for diagnostic and treatment purposes, as well as the payment of debt service in connection with obligations issued by the city and any public trust to finance or refinance the referenced expenditures or related costs. It is capped at $3.75 million.
For Proposition 4, 1,135 voted “Yes,” or 59.3 percent, and 79 voted “No,” or 40.7 percent for Proposition 4. This proposition will levy 0.05 percent of the penny sales tax for projects benefitting Weatherford Public Schools. The money will help fund an artificial turf field and pad below the field and a new track. Any remaining funds will be used for a new HVAC for the high school, as well as for the payment of debt service in connection with obligations issued by the city and any public trust to finance or refinance the referenced expenditures and related costs. It is capped at $1.25 million.
The City of Weatherford has received grants such as an FAA grant for the airport terminal.
“We already have been approved for this grant,” Brown said. “We just have to match the $500,000 they gave us.”
Thomas P. Stafford Airport is part of an updated $132 million-plan for airport infrastructure for projects across the state, of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.
At its meeting Wednesday, March 11, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission heard details about the latest version of the Airport Construction Program for Fiscal Years 2021- 25. This $132-million 5-year plan programs federal, state and local funding for various airport infrastructure projects across the state. It was approved in May.
Weatherford has received other grants as well, such as a grant from the Midwestern Oklahoma Development Authority, in Burns Flat, which is a $17,000 grant and a Kaboom grant, which is a $15,000 grant to improve Heritage Park, is located across the street from City Hall.