Altus residents went to the polls yesterday to vote in the Altus Municipal Special Election to approve the continuance of a one-cent city sales tax (authorized in 1999 to provide revenue for the reverse-osmosis water treatment plant) and adding a three-quarter cent sales tax.

Only voters within the city limits of Altus were allowed to cast a ballot. Altusans passed the issue by more than 3 to 1 with a total of 1,766 for the tax and 574 against.

“I just see wonderful things for our community,” said Altus Chamber of Commerce president Holley Urbanski. “Altus will definitely be moving forward over the next few years and I’m excited to see all the great things that will be happening.”

Altus School Superintendent Bob Drury said, “We appreciate the confidence the public has in us, and we promise to be good stewards of the money we receive to improve Altus High School, and we will make the funds stretch as far as we can.”

Police Chief Mike Patterson said, “I appreciate the way the citizens of Altus made it clear that this is what they wanted. It wouldn’t have happened without the input from them.”

Mayor T.L. Gramling said, “I’m just overwhelmed with the great turnout and the majority in favor of MAPS. It just let us know that all of our work was not in vane and I appreciate all of those who supported us. We look forward to carrying out the referendum in the election by providing and updating the facilities and projects involved. I am also indebted to the city council and compliment them for stepping forward and working this out so we can send a clear message to the state that we are here to deal with whatever might be in the future for Southwest Oklahoma.”

Rep. David Braddock, who helped lead the MAPS for Altus effort, also expressed his thanks to citizens for the passage of MAPS.

“We are entering into a new era in Altus, and as we begin to ‘Make Altus Progressive,’ we are grateful and humbled for the support of our community. The bottom line is that voters in Altus have confidence in our City and school officials. They know that the remodeled Altus High School, new City Hall and public safety facilities, new senior citizens center, and new economic development projects are needed,” he said. “The results of the election show that our citizens understand that a sales tax is the fairest way to pay for these critical needs, and we appreciate their vote of confidence,” he added.

The MAPS sales tax issue is expected to generate $34 million to remodel and upgrade Altus High School and add new classrooms, to build a combined new city hall and public safety facility, to provide a modern senior citizens activity center and to create new jobs and significant economic development (initially an industrial park east of Altus Air Force Base’s east runway).

Tax revenues will be split 50/50 between city and school district projects.

Altus retailers will collect the tax from Altus and visiting shoppers on all merchandise subject to sales tax.

Shoppers in Altus currently pay 8 percent, but with the passage of the new tax it will increase the total sales tax to 8.75 percent.