#OKC BOXSCORE
Election bill delivered
Oklahoma City was billed $142,814.54 for its share of the cost for the Feb. 13 municipal primary and school board election by the Oklahoma County Election Board. David Holt led a three-way race to win election as mayor with 78.5 percent of the vote. Turnout was 8.4 percent.
Sales tax hike falters
A legislative proposal to increase the state sales tax by one cent would give Oklahoma City the ninth-highest sales tax rate among cities with 200,000 or more residents, according to the Tax Foundation. With the change, sales tax in most of Oklahoma City would be 9.375 cents, and higher in Canadian and Cleveland counties. By comparison, Long Beach, California, tops the list at 10.25 cents. Oklahoma City's lobbyists said the proposal was withdrawn after it "was met with outcry from municipalities and business groups across the state."
Action on raises deferred
The city council deferred action on raises for Jim Couch, the city manager; Kenneth Jordan, the city attorney; and Jim Williamson, the city auditor. Annual salary decisions for those top three posts generally are made after all the city's labor contracts are settled, and the deal with the firefighters' union has still not come before the council for ratification. Most employees are getting 2 percent pay hikes this year, retroactive to July 1. Police settled for 3.3 percent across-theboard raises.
Tweet of the week
"How an OKC nonprofit is helping people get out of jail — and stay out http:// bit.ly/2phPQgN via @ JoshDulaney"
— @NewsOK. Find coverage of criminal justice reform efforts at NewsOK. com and in The Oklahoman.
Drought picture shifts
Drought has receded in southeastern Oklahoma counties where reservoirs supply Oklahoma City drinking water. The picture is different in seven northwestern Oklahoma counties where "exceptional" drought has made those counties the driest of any area in the West.
Of note: Last week's U.S. Drought Monitor reported 35 percent of Oklahoma in "extreme" to "exceptional" drought and 31 percent drought-free.
Bond rating intact
Finance officials said Oklahoma City had retained its top bond ratings, Aaa from Moody's and AAA from Standard & Poor's. The city is preparing for two bond sales totaling $123 million next week. Interest rates are expected to top 3 percent, an increase from recent sales.
Streetcar construction
MAPS 3 streetcar construction is underway throughout downtown. For updates, follow the weekly downtown area traffic advisory online at okc. gov. Streetcar service is to begin in December.
Present/absent
Mayor Mick Cornett and seven of the eight city council members attended last week's meeting. Ward 7 Councilman John Pettis was away.
Looking ahead
• The Oklahoma City Council meets at 8:30 a.m. March 27 at City Hall, 200 N Walker. It is Mayor Mick Cornett's last regular meeting; David Holt will be sworn in as mayor April 10.
• Mayor Mick Cornett hosts the 17th annual Mayor's Development Roundtable on March 28. Bank of Oklahoma is recipient of the 2018 Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Development.