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County officials on Tuesday declared victory with the passage of separate 15-year sales tax proposals to fund the construction of a new juvenile justice center and four new pods at the Tulsa Jail.
With about 97 percent of the votes counted, Proposition 1, a 0.041 percent sales tax to fund the juvenile justice center, was passing by about a 70 percent margin, according to preliminary results provided by the Tulsa County Election Board.
Proposition 2, a 0.026 percent sales tax to fund and operate the new jail pods, was passing by about 66 percent margin.
"Getting a facility that is adequate is great, but also just having the community say, 'We care about what you do.' That is equally important," said Brent Wolfe, director of Tulsa County Juvenile Bureau.
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County Commissioner Karen Keith told those assembled in the Aloft Hotel's WXYZ lounge that the projects were long overdue.
"We are so grateful," she said. "We did it. We did it."
Keith said construction of the juvenile justice center could begin within 12 months.
The county has yet to find a location for the facility.
Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz said, “To the voters of Tulsa County who supported us, it's really overwhelming."
The taxes, totaling 0.067 percent, will take effect July 1.
They will not increase the sales-tax rate in the city of Tulsa because an equivalent tax is expiring June 30. Sales-tax rates in other Tulsa County municipalities will increase by 0.067 percent.
The new juvenile justice center will replace the Tulsa County Juvenile Bureau at 315 S. Gilcrease Museum Road.
Built in the late 1960s and renovated in 1995, the Juvenile Bureau comprises two structures totaling about 46,000 square feet, including a 55-bed detention center.
The Juvenile Bureau provides state-mandated services such as probation and counseling for juveniles in the Tulsa County Court Juvenile Court system.
The Juvenile Court, which also hears adoption and neglect cases, is part of the Juvenile Bureau facility.
Judges, attorneys and staff have said for years that the facility is rundown and overcrowded. It is not unusual to see records stored in the hallways and staff working out of old closet space.
County officials estimate a new facility would cost $45 million but have not settled on a location.
The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office has been dealing with overcrowding at the jail for two years as well as a spike in inmates with severe mental-health issues.
Proposition 2 asks voters to consider a 15-year, 0.026 percent sales tax to fund the construction and operation of four new pods, including one specially designed to handle inmates with mental-health needs.
The pods are estimated to cost $9.3 million. The county is asking voters to approve an additional $1.7 million per year to operate and staff the new pods.
