Elk City Leaders Say Half Cent Sales Tax Extension Is a “Need” Not a “Want”

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March 17, 2023

By News Director Jared Atha

Elk City voters will be heading to the polls on Tuesday April 4 to decide if the existing voter-approved half cent sales tax, which began in 2015 for the construction of Elk City Elementary, should be extended for another 8 years and re-purposed for police and fire department upgrades.

Local leaders, including Police Chief Eddie Holland says the extension is needed to address not only spacing needs in the police department, which is pushing 40 years old, but also plumbing needs.

Elk City Fire Chief Kyle Chervenka says by focusing funds towards renovating and expanding the fire department, which is nearly 70 years old, it would address needs for both his staff and volunteers, and equipment.

Chief Chervenka says he expects response time to be more efficient if those needs are met. Currently, he says there is equipment stored at the barn at the Convention Center, and says if the expansion happens, all the equipment will be under one roof.

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